Queen Elizabeth II: seven decades of service.

Queen Elizabeth II, was the longest reigning monarch in British history, her reign spanned more than seven decades and defined post-war Britain. When she died on Thursday 8th September 2022, the then Prime Minister Liz Truss, reflected that the late Queen was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Her legacy as one of the greatest monarchs in British history is undeniable and her name is synonymous with life long duty, but what makes her reign even more remarkable was that she was never meant to be Queen.

When the Duke and Duchess of York welcomed their first child Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on April 21st 1926, no one would have expected that she would go on to be the longest reigning monarch in British history. After all she was third in line to the throne and it was anticipated would move down the line once her uncle the then Prince of Wales, married and produced an heir and spares. The young Elizabeth enjoyed a happy childhood under the loving care of the Duke of Duchess of York.

All this changed in 1936 when her uncle, now Edward VIII abdicated the throne so he could marry the divorced American Wallis Simpson. This royal crisis resulted in her father becoming King George VI and she was now the heir to the throne. Had Edward not abdicated it is likely that she would have lived a quiet as comfortable country lady indulging in her passion, horse riding. Fate had other plans, Elizabeth now aged 10 was destined to be Queen of the largest empire the world had ever seen.

Elizabeth's teenage years were a turbulent time for Britain as it fought Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Following her parents example, Elizabeth stayed in London and joined  the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, where she trained as a driver and mechanic.

After the war, Elizabeth, now Princess of Wales caused a stir in royal circles by choosing to marry Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark who was from a family that had lost its throne, had connections with Nazi Germany, was bankrupt and foreign. They married in 1947 and lived in Malta, where Philip was stationed with the Royal Navy. These relative care free years were cut dramatically short in February 1952. 

Elizabeth's father King George VI's health was deteriorating, the stress of taking the throne had aged him and his heavy smoking made it worse. On 6th February 1952 he died of lung cancer and the young Princess, abroad on a tour of Kenya was now Queen, aged 25.

Due to her long reign, Elizabeth was seen as a symbol of continuity and stability - this was not always the case. As the youngest monarch to ascend to the throne since Queen Victoria, to many Elizabeth was the embodiment of national rebirth. Her first Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, remarked that the new Elizabethan Age had begun.

The hopes of a new imperial age were quickly dashed, and Elizabeth would not preside over a glorious rebirth of Empire but instead be a symbol of dignified decline. The young Elizabeth was modern and practical, rather than lamenting the loss of Empire like her Victorian Prime Minister she would become a life-long champion of its successor The Commonwealth.

Her reign saw the end of Empire, starting in Africa with the independence of Ghana in 1957 through to the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.

Elizabeth's success as a monarch and the enduring respect she earned in life and death is undoubtedly due to her remarkable ability to modernise and remain the symbol of stability.

Her decision to allow the televising of her coronation in 1953 marked a significant departure from tradition, making the monarchy more accessible to the public. A trend she continued through documentaries on the royal family and in later life appearing with James Bond and Paddington, demonstrating her fierce sense of humour.

Her reign was no stranger to strife, the family struggles, divorces and controversies are well known - many are still ongoing. Nevertheless, the Queen always managed to rise above those difficulties showing exceptional resilience in the face of adversity. Throughout her reign, she maintained consistently high levels of public support and approval. Her ability to connect with people from all walks of life, her dedication to charitable causes, and her unwavering commitment to her role made her a beloved figure in the United Kingdom and beyond.

At 96, her death was not a surprise and yet it still shocked the world. Just two days prior, she carried out her last duty, the appointment of a new Prime Minister. Her final act exemplified her reign - duty and service.

On her twenty-first birthday, 21st April 1947, Princess Elizabeth was with her parents and younger sister on a tour of South Africa. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, she made a promise which she fulfilled until her dying day:

"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."