The world was shocked on Thursday, Sept. 8, when Queen Elizabeth II passed away at her Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Immediately upon her death, the throne was passed down to her son Prince Charles who became King Charles III.
When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary took the throne in 1952, the British Empire still existed. She was made queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, an organization whose members have historic ties to the United Kingdom. On her passing she was queen of fifteen Commonwealth realms. As queen, Elizabeth II represented Britain diplomatically for seventy years, through times of war and peace.
The United Kingdom entered a state of national mourning for her funeral. Her coffin, decorated with a royal flag and crown, was transported from her Balmoral estate to Westminster Abbey in London. The British public has been invited to file past her coffin to pay silent respects, leading to a line that spans almost five miles with a several hour long wait time.
Despite the long wait and the cold overnight temperatures, Britons remain passionate in their dedication to pay respects to the only British monarch most of them have ever known. The rest of the royal family, including King Charles III, have met with the crowds to share their sense of grief and mourning.
On Sunday, Sept. 18, 2,000 dignitaries and guests were invited to Westminster Abbey for her funeral. Among them were President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. Both made remarks about her honor and sense of duty to both the United Kingdom and the entire world.
The guest list includes several political leaders from across the globe. Representing the nations who have ties to the crown are Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Various royal figures from Europe and abroad plan to make their attendance, including the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife.
Monday, Sept. 19, was the final day of the 10-day long period of national mourning. On that day two minutes of silence was observed across the United Kingdom. Afterward her coffin will be transported to King George VI Memorial Chapel for a private funeral service where Queen Elizabeth II will be interred with her late husband Prince Philip.
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