On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire. The Queen was 96.
As the news was announced, condolences poured in from around the world.
Mourners lined the route of the cortège from Balmoral to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, 250,000 queued around the clock to pay their final respects as The Queen’s coffin lay in state at Westminster Hall, and almost 29 million viewers watched the funeral on television.
At Fingerprint Financial Planning, we join the nation in mourning the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and take a look back at her incredible life.
The “accidental” Queen
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21 April 1926.
At the time of her birth, the Queen’s grandfather was king and Elizabeth was not expected to ever become queen. It was only upon the voluntary abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, that the line of succession changed.
The Queen’s father, George VI, took the throne, and his eldest child, the 10-year-old Elizabeth, learned that she would one day reign.
Elizabeth was informed of her father’s death on 6 February 1952, while in Kenya on a royal tour with Prince Philip. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen was aged 27 and would go on to reign for 70 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The Queen’s legacy
The Queen succeeded to the throne at a time when society was not yet accustomed to seeing women in power.
The Commonwealth’s first female prime minister wouldn’t be elected until 1960 (in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka). The UK wouldn’t elect Margaret Thatcher until 1979.
And yet by the time of her death, the Queen had garnered immeasurable respect across the globe, arguably becoming the most recognisable woman in the world.
Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen oversaw huge shifts in social and political life, including the second world war, the decline of the British Empire, and shifting attitudes towards the monarchy.
She opted to televise her coronation – the first time cameras were present at the ceremony – and in 1969 invited a documentary crew into the royal household.
While her love of corgis, horses, and her family was well-documented, she remained an enigma too.
The weekly audiences she had with the UK’s prime ministers stretched from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. The Queen asked Truss to form a government just two days before her death. And yet the content of those weekly meetings remains largely a mystery.
It has been left to scriptwriters to fill in the gaps, with help from the actors who have played her. These big-name stars include Claire Foy, Olivia Coleman, Kristen Scott Thomas, Neve Campbell, and Dame Helen Mirren.
In later years, the Queen would show her sense of humour, in clips for the London 2012 Olympics and her own Platinum Jubilee. In short pre-recorded film sequences she starred alongside James Bond and Paddington Bear, respectively.
The Queen had some tough years during her reign too. She described 1992 as her annus horribilis. Two royal marriages broke down and the release of a tell-all memoir that pitched the press against the monarchy was capped by a fire at Windsor Castle.
More recently, a lawsuit brought against Prince Andrew led to an out-of-court settlement and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, stepped back from royal duties, moved his young family to America and made a controversial talk show appearance with his wife.
The Queen also had to say goodbye to Prince Philip, her husband of more than 70 years.
And yet, the Queen – who once promised that she would devote her life to the service of her people, whether that life be long or short – remained steadfast in her duties to the very end.
Long live the King
At the end of 10 days of national mourning, the Queen was buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. Prince Philip was moved from his previous resting place to be alongside her.
With the Queen’s passing, the second Elizabethan age comes to an end. King Charles III, aged 73, now succeeds to the throne.
The coronation is likely to take place in the spring or summer of 2023 and there is some speculation that it could be aligned with the anniversary of Elizabeth’s coronation.
Get in touch
While the nation paused to pay its respects to the late Queen, we understand that the worries or concerns you might have had before the news broke will still be affecting you as the period of mourning ends.
If you have any questions about the current cost of living crisis, the latest government announcements, or your long-term financial plans, speak to us now. Get in touch by emailing hello@fingerprintfp.co.uk or calling 03452 100 100.
