Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully on the 8th of September 2022 at Balmoral, United Kingdom. She reigned over the UK for 70 years before her death. Before the announcement of her passing, Buckingham Palace released a statement regarding the Queen’s health. They stated that Queen Elizabeth II was under medical supervision at Balmoral.
The rainy weather reflected the concern and worry of people in the UK. Buckingham Palace officials attempted to reassure the public by saying, “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
A few days before her passing, Queen Elizabeth appointed Liz Truss as the new UK Prime Minister. She now hails as the third woman appointed as Prime Minister in the country.
The Royal Family Rushed to Scotland
After the Queen’s doctors shared their concerns, members of the royal family rushed to Queen Elizabeth’s side. Two children of her eldest children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne arrived first.
This was possible because both senior royals were already in Scotland at that time. Prince Charles arrived at Balmoral with Camila, Duchess of Cornwall.
Meanwhile, Prince William travelled to Balmoral without the Duchess of Cambridge because of their kids’ school schedule. However, reports claim that he flew to Scotland with the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
On the other hand, Prince Harry cancelled his schedule with WellChild charity awards to rush to Scotland. He originally planned to travel to Balmoral with his wife, Megan, Duchess of Sussex.
Before the official announcement of her death, Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones.
Things Immediately Changed After the Queen’s Death
Though most of us take some time to mourn departed loved ones, that’s not the case for UK’s royal family. Right after her mother’s death, Prince Charles is set to become king.
In truth, media outlets in the UK already named him King Charles III. On the other hand, his wife, Camila, is now the Queen Consort.
Meanwhile, Prince William is now the direct heir to the throne. The line of succession shifts by following his lineage. He and his wife also received the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Cornwall.
Queen Elizabeth II Passed Away After 70-Year Reign
Before she passed away, Queen Elizabeth II was hailed as UK’s longest-serving monarch. She was also the only queen to have served the country for 70 years.
Following her father’s death, Queen Elizabeth II succeeded the throne in 1952. Since then, she lived through several historical events.
Some of the notable events during Queen Elizabeth’s reign include the transition from empire to Commonwealth. She also lived through the safety declaration of the Polio and the COVID-19 vaccines.
Other notable events include the following:
| Date | Historical Event |
| 2 May 1952 | The world’s first commercial jet service took flight |
| 4 October 1957 | The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite |
| 9 August 1965 | Singapore becomes an independent country |
| 16 May 1966 | Communist leader Mao Zedong launched China’s Cultural Revolution |
| 4 April 1968 | An assassin fatally shot civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. |
| 20 June 1969 | Apollo 11 landed on the moon |
| 30 April 1975 | After nearly 20 years, the Vietnam war finally ended |
| 9 November 1989 | The Cold War ends with the fall of the Berlin wall |
| 3 January 2009 | The launch of Bitcoin |
| 23 June 2016 | Brexit |
She Lived Through the Appointment of 15 UK Prime Ministers
While on the throne, she witnessed the appointment of 15 UK Prime Ministers. During her coronation, Winston Churchill still served as Prime Minister at that time.
Additionally, she appointed three female UK Prime Ministers into office. Margaret Thatcher served from 1979 to 1990 while Theresa May stepped into office from 2016 to 2019.
Before her death, the Queen appointed the current Prime Minister into office. UK Prime Minister Liz Truss starts her term this 2022.
The Queen Mourned Her Husband Before Celebrating Her Jubilee
In 2021, the Queen and the royal family mourned the passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He died before turning 100 years old, his birthday was just two months away at that time.
Before marrying, the romance between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip first bloomed in 1939. After years of courtship, King King George VI granted their engagement in 1946.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip married in 1947, 5 years before her succession on the throne. They stayed married until Prince Philip’s death.
After mourning her husband’s loss, the Queen proceeded with planning another milestone in her life. She and the country were set to honour her 70-year reign in 2022.
Despite experiencing some delays, the Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee on June 2022. People from all over the world joined the weekend-long festivities in London and via online or TV.