BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth II Dead At 96

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, has died. She was 96.

The Royal Family confirmed the news on Twitter, writing in a statement, “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

Though the British monarchy is largely ceremonial from a legal standpoint, Queen Elizabeth II did wonders for national morale throughout her life, especially in times of political and cultural turmoil. Yet one of her greatest achievements came early in her career, when she served as a steadfast symbol following the drama that preceded her ascension to the throne in the early 1950s.

Her Majesty was active during the entirety of her decades-long reign. The most well-traveled monarch in history, the Queen visited 110 countries and was received so well that major parks, cities, and statues bearing her namesake can be found in nearly every corner of the globe. She was ubiquitous in popular culture, appearing in ceremonies, sporting events, and coins, and was the subject of films and shows. As of 2021, Queen Elizabeth II was named the third most admired woman in a global survey. She was the only royal on the list.

“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.” — Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas Broadcast 2019.

Elizabeth was born in 1926 in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father later became King George VI when his older brother King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. During World War II, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service and worked as a driver and mechanic. She became the first female member of the royal family to serve in the armed forces and, when she died, was the only living head of state to serve.

1945: Princess Elizabeth, standing by an Auxiliary Territorial Service first aid truck wearing an officer’s uniform. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Upon turning 21, Elizabeth vowed her life to serve the Commonwealth. “I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple. 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,” she said. She renewed that vow in 2022 during her Platinum Jubilee celebration, when she became the first English monarch to reign 70 years.

Elizabeth wed Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, in 1947. Philip and Elizabeth first met in 1934 at a royal family wedding but the romantic spark didn’t light until a few years later in 1939 when she was 13 and he was 18. The strapping cadet caught Elizabeth’s eye while she was with her parents visiting Britain’s Royal Naval College.

Since the pair wed during World War II, Elizabeth had to use ration coupons to buy the materials for her wedding dress just like other brides of the time. It’s said that royal advisors had reservations about Philip being the right match. However, Elizabeth was smitten and could not be dissuaded.

“We behave as though we had belonged to each other for years,” Elizabeth wrote in a letter to her parents shortly after getting married. “Philip is an angel – he is so kind and thoughtful.’’

The pair were married for 73 years until Philip’s death in 2021. They shared four children together: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Prince Charles, who is now expected to ascend the throne.

Elizabeth’s father died unexpectedly in February 1952 while Elizabeth was traveling in Kenya. After his passing, she became queen regent of seven independent Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka, at the age of 25.

Queen Elizabeth lived through some of the most significant moments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including multiple wars and cultural events. She personally met with 13 out of 14 sitting presidents during her reign — the only exception was President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Gerald Ford (1913-2006) 38th President of the United States 1974-1977, dancing with Queen Elizabeth II at the ball at the White House, Washington, during the 1976 Bicentennial Celebrations of the Declaration of Independence, 7th July 1976. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

During the 60s and 70s, Elizabeth’s reign saw the spreading reality of decolonization  in Africa and the Caribbean, with more than 20 countries gaining independence

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