On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 after a 70-year reign. She died peacefully at her Scottish estate, where she had spent most of her summer.
Hours before her death, doctors were concerned for her health and recommended that she stay under medical supervision. t Following this concern and supervision, it was later that afternoon when the Palace had publicly announced that she had passed.
Throughout her 70-year reign, she experienced many victories and obstacles, but her hard work and longevity won deep admiration across the United Kingdom. She dedicated her life to the throne and her people. She was a constant point for many in a rapidly changing world, reported BBC.
Queen Elizabeth was represented everywhere in British society, from coins to postage stamps, letter boxes to flags, and of course, the national anthem. The royal family is a subject of attraction both within and beyond the United Kingdom, and the queen’s death has felt personal to many mourners.
Reported by BBC, King Charles III “know[s] her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Following the news of her death, the world was left in a state of shock and sadness. In the Washington Post it was said: “For millions of people, she represented a symbol of British pride and greatness.” Many world leaders have expressed their sadness of her death.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement, “This is our country’s saddest day. In the hearts of every one of us, there is an ache at the passing of our Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss – far more intense, perhaps, than we expected.”
As Queen Elizabeth II laid in state for four days at Westminster Hall in central London, members of the public stood in lines that were miles long, growing so long over four days that wait times reached 24 hours to pay their respects.
Initial estimates suggest that more than 250,00 people went through the Parliamentary building to see the queen’s coffin, Culture Secretary Muchelle Donelan told British broadcasters early Tuesday.
This queue had many people waiting at least six hours before joining another line that would be at least 14 hours to see the coffin.
Queen Elizabeth’s death, however, has caused uncertainty and questions about the future. Her passing comes at a conflicting time in British politics with transitioning from a controversial prime minister, Boris Johnson, to Liz Truss, who just took over the job. The country faces skyrocketing inflation and the challenge of the biggest war since 1945 in Europe.
It was also reported by Texas A&M Today that a 2021 poll taken across England, Scotland, and Wales, showed a 70% approval rating for Queen Elizabeth, but only 50% of respondents thought favorably of her son and heir Charles, now King Charles III.
Beyond the United Kingdom, 14 countries still consider the British monarch to be their head of state, these countries will start to want to remove the monarch as their sovereign.
