Queen Elizabeth Dead, Beloved UK Head of State Served for 70 Years

British royal family news reveals that Queen Elizabeth II died today, Thursday, September 8, 2022. The remarkable woman born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926 led the United Kingdom and 14 other sovereign countries as head of state for 70 years, an event commemorated in June. Elizabeth was the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, as well as the oldest and longest-serving incumbent head of state. She was considered the second-longest reigning sovereign monarch in world history.

Her Majesty had been in poor health since last fall, when she spent a night in the hospital for undisclosed reasons. Afterward she delegated key events to her son and heir Prince Charles, who now becomes monarch at the age of 73.

Royal Family News: Queen Elizabeth Sat for 70 Years

Elizabeth was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), in Mayfair, London. Her father took the throne in 1936 after the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII. At that time Elizabeth became the heir presumptive.

Elizabeth was just 25 years old when her father died in February 1952, making her the British monarch and head of the Commonwealth; the number of her realms has varied over time as countries became independent and/or republics.

Elizabeth was educated privately at home. In the Second World War she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
She married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, in November 1947. Their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in

April 2021. They had four children together: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

Queen Elizabeth Has Died

As the only monarch many generations of citizens have ever known, Queen Elizabeth was a beloved leader who led the nation in times of trouble with a firm hand and a comforting tone. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic she addressed the populace in a televised broadcast watched by an estimated 24 million viewers. Her words bolstered and cheered the country in a speech that included these words: “take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

Royal Family News: Queen Elizabeth Reigned for Seven Decades

In February of 2022 the Queen tested positive for COVID-19, and she later remarked that COVID infection “leave[s] one very tired and exhausted […] It’s not a nice result.”

By this time the nation had grown used to seeing her miss events due to her failing health.

The Queen was at the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on March 29, but was unable to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service that same month.

Other significant absences occurred at the Royal Maundy Service in April and the State Opening of Parliament in May. In her absence,

Parliament was opened by the Charles Prince of Wales and William Duke of Cambridge her immediate heir and his son and immediate heir.

The last significant event held by the queen was in September 2022, when she appointed her 15th British prime minister. Notably, she installed Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle in Scotland where she had been summering, making it the first time she had done so.

Queen Elizabeth is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

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