On Thursday, September 8, Queen Elizabeth II quietly passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with family members at her side. At 96 years of age and 70 years on the throne, she was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and Canada’s head of state.
She was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor in London on April 21, 1926, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. She made her first public address in 1940 at the age of 14, when she was Princess Elizabeth, sending a wartime message to children evacuated from the war and sent to the countryside or overseas. In 1947 at age 21 in one of her most famous addresses she promised the people of Britain and the Commonwealth that, “my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” It was a promise she kept for more than 7 decades.
After the death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth took the throne with her coronation occurring on June 2, 1953. Her reign covered a period of huge social, economic, technological, and political change. It saw the transformation into a Commonwealth of 52 independent nations headed by the queen, and the country’s entrance into and exit from the European Union. Fifteen British prime ministers and 12 Canadian prime ministers served during Elizabeth’s reign.
She married Prince Philip on November 20, 1947, celebrating over 70 years of marriage, the longest ever for the monarchy. They had 4 children, Charles, Ann, Andrew, and Edward. Prince Philip passed away April 9, 2021.
During her time on the throne, Elizabeth took her place on the global stage along with various elected leaders and dictators, including 5 popes. She celebrated six jubilees, her 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 65th and 70th years on the throne, as well as the marriages of her four children and the births of eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Halton Hills Public Library invites the community to learn more about her life and the Royal Family, by browsing the various collections and resources from HHPL’s online catalogue.