Remembering Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died Thursday, September 8. She was 96 years old.
Queen Elizabeth II's life was full of notable achievements, even before she became the Queen. During World War II (which ended when she was 19) Queen Elizabeth — princess Elizabeth at the time — didn't sail to Canada as advised. Instead, she stayed in England and joined the army.
Additionally, The Queen was only 25 years old when she ascended to the throne in February 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II then reigned for 70 years and saw Britain through many cultural and political shifts.
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch in history, has died at the age of 96. Elizabeth was 25 years old when she assumed the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. This year marked the queen's platinum jubilee, celebrating 70 years on the throne. During that time, the queen has seen the world go through times of war and great turmoil and change.
Early into her reign, Queen Elizabeth maintained a strict calendar of events and appearances. The Queen performed both symbolic and formal duties over the course of her tenure. She was also faced with the difficult task of navigating public opinion toward the royal family throughout her reign.
Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. Together they had four children; Prince Charles (1948), Princess Anne (1950), Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964), all of whom survive. Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021 at Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II's performed her last major constitutional act on Sept. 6, when she accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and asked Liz Truss, his successor, to form a new government. The included programming highlights many moments throughout Queen Elizabeth II's life.
You can stream these titles and more on PBS.org or on the PBS Video App.
