Queen Elizabeth II died Thursday, September 8, 2022, at her estate in Scotland. The British monarch was 96 years old. Members of the Royal family had traveled to be at her bedside after doctors announced Thursday they were “concerned” for her health.

Queen Elizabeth was born in London at the Mayfair home of her maternal grandparents on April 21, 1926. She was never expected to become a ruling monarch. However, her life path changed dramatically when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in December 1936. This event left her father ruling as King of England and made Elizabeth the heir to the throne.

Queen Elizabeth became Queen of England following her father’s death, King George VI, on February 6, 1952. She was officially crowned in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. The ceremony was broadcast on radio worldwide and aired on television for the first time following Queen Elizabeth’s request. This broadcast allowed hundreds of thousands of people to watch the significant event.

Queen Elizabeth’s reign was filled with notable moments. However, before her ascension, there had been a period of uncertainty. When her uncle abdicated, he threw the crown into disarray. By the time Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952, the British Empire was rapidly declining. When she became queen, she gave the British Empire what it needed: stability.

Before World War II, Britain had maintained a vast empire of colonial holdings and a reputation as a world power. When she was crowned, the Commonwealth had eight member states. Today there are 54. That means that Queen Elizabeth oversaw a process in which practically the entire British Empire transformed into a voluntary association of sovereign nations.

Queen Elizabeth also played a significant role in modernizing the monarchy. She stabilized the royal family’s position with her willingness to modernize and embrace change. Realizing that her subjects needed to see the royal family as approachable, she appeared on television regularly and spoke directly to the people.

The queen had a keen interest in horses and horseback riding outside the monarchy. She attended the Derby at Epsom every year, one of the classic flat races in Britain, and the Summer Race Meeting at Ascot, which has been a Royal occasion since 1911. As an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds, Her Majesty often visited other race meetings to watch her horses run and frequently attended equestrian events.

A lesser-known interest of the queen was Scottish country dancing. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, The Queen held dances known as Gillies’ Balls for neighbors, estate and Castle staff, and members of the local community. Her life was the subject of a Netflix series “The Crown.”

Elizabeth II ruled for longer than any other monarch in British history, 70 years. She was the proud mother of four children and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Queen Elizabeth also had ties with over 600 different charities, military associations, professional bodies, and public service organizations linked to young people’s opportunities to preserve wildlife and the environment.

Following her death, Price Charles automatically becomes monarch, even though the coronation might not take place for several months.

The loss of Queen Elizabeth is devastating for the United Kingdom, and the people she once ruled are mourning. Still, the country she loved so dearly will continue and hopes that their new monarch is capable of filling the shoes the beloved Queen Elizabeth II left behind.