Our Devoted Queen, A Symbol of Constant Strength has Passed Away

Published: 8/9/2022

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch in history, has passed away peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Thursday, 8 September 2022, aged 96.

The Royal Family advised the The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.

Young Princess Elizabeth became heir to the throne at the tender young age of 25. During her reign, she experienced astonishing moments from royal weddings and jubilee celebrations to divorce and scandal - even a global pandemic thrown in. The Queen however, always adapted to ensure the monarch remained relevant in an ever changing society - always devoting her duty to the Commonwealth above all else.

For more than 70 devoted years, The Queen was a force of stability for many. One of the Queen's private secretaries once told royal biographer Gyles Brandreth that "... The Queen sees it as her duty to walk at the pace of the slowest person in the land, so that nobody in the country ever feels left behind".

Special events we celebrated alongside The Queen included her grandiose Coronation in 1953, her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 and her Silver (1977), Golden (2002), Diamond (2012), Sapphire (2017) and Platinum (2022) jubilees.

Sometimes royal life wasn't always celebrated and during The Queen's 'annus horribilis' in 1992, the family was often criticised in the press. The period saw her daughter, Anne divorce, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales divorce, as well as the divorce of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York (Fergie) - and on the Queen's 45th wedding anniversary, a fire swept through Windsor Castle destroying 115 rooms. Sadly it came to an all time low following the backlash of Charles and Diana's divorce which exploded even further when the news broke of Diana's tragic death in 1997.

The Queen kept her private life separate from the world, and some might argue if we ever really knew her. What we can all agree on is that she loved corgis, enjoyed a day at the races and was a keen horsewoman who bred and kept her own racehorses. She adored her family and very much enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren. We cried her tears when her "...strength and stay" Prince Philip passed away and marvelled at the fact she never skipped a beat when it came to her royal duty; forever putting her 'loving people' first.

The Queen has seen it all come, and has seen it all go. Admired for her consistency and devotion to the people of the Commonwealth, she had a modesty that was well respected and admired.

Rest in peace Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth, your presence in this world will be greatly missed, but your strength and warmth will forever remain in our hearts.

By Kirsten Jakubenko

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-II
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II
https://www.royal.uk/her-majesty-the-queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyukAXKsHtg
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a26111579/queen-elizabeth-ii-father-king-george-vi-death/
https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily