Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II was the monarch of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms for over 70 years, becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
She was never supposed to become queen at all — that path only opened after an uncle gave up the throne to marry a divorced American woman, reshuffling the line of succession entirely.
An Unexpected Path to the Throne
Elizabeth was not originally expected to become queen; her path to the throne opened only after her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry a divorced American woman, making Elizabeth's father king and placing her next in the line of succession.
Ascending the Throne
Elizabeth became queen in 1952 at just 25 years old, following the death of her father, King George VI, while she was on a royal tour in Kenya. Her coronation the following year was the first to be televised, watched by millions around the world.
Presiding Over Enormous Change
Her seven-decade reign spanned extraordinary transformation, including the decolonization of the British Empire, the evolving structure of the Commonwealth of Nations, and significant modernization of the British monarchy's public role and relationship with the media.
A Steadying Presence
Throughout numerous periods of political and social upheaval, including changes across 15 different British prime ministers during her reign, Elizabeth was widely regarded as a stabilizing, apolitical symbol of continuity for the United Kingdom.
The End of an Era
Elizabeth died in September 2022 at age 96, having reigned longer than any other monarch in British history, and was succeeded by her eldest son, who became King Charles III.
