The departure of the witness of a turbulent age

Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-serving monarch and a leading figure of the nation for seven decades, died yesterday at the age of 97, Buckingham Palace announced.

Elizabeth's eldest son Charles, 73, automatically becomes King of the United Kingdom and head of state of 14 other territories including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. He will be known as King Charles III. His wife Kamila becomes queen consort.

"The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," said the new king of the United Kingdom.

"We suffer deeply because of the departure of our dear sovereign and much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt across the country, the Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world," Charles said in a statement.

Her family members rushed to be by her side at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, as doctors raised concerns for her health. Since the end of last year, it was difficult for her to move and this forced her to withdraw from almost all public engagements.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was also the world's oldest and longest-serving head of state, ascended the throne after the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952, when she was just 25 years old. She was crowned in June of the following year. The first televised coronation heralded a new world in which the lives of members of the royal family were increasingly scrutinized by the media.

"I sincerely vowed to serve you, as many of you have vowed to me. Throughout my life and with all my heart, I will try to be worthy of your trust," she said in an address to her subjects on the day of the coronation.

She became monarch at a time when Britain held most of its empire. It emerged from the ruins of the Second World War, when food rationing was still in force and class privileges were still dominant in society.

Winston Churchill was the first Prime Minister to serve during her reign, Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union, and the Korean War was raging.

In the decades that followed, Elizabeth witnessed enormous political change and social upheaval at home and abroad. Her family's troubles, especially the divorce of Charles and his late first wife, Diana, played out before the public eye.

It remained an enduring symbol of stability and continuity for the British at a time of relative national economic decline, while attempting to adapt the ancient institution of the monarchy to the demands of the modern era.

"She managed to modernize and develop the monarchy like no one else," her grandson, Prince William, who is now the heir to the throne, said in a 2012 documentary.

She performed her last public duty on Tuesday, when she oversaw the handover of power from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Liz Truss, in a series of carefully orchestrated events steeped in the tradition of a thousand-year-old monarchy.

"The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and the world," Truss said outside her office in Downing Street, where flags, like those at royal palaces and government buildings across London, were flown at half-mast.

During her reign, the Queen also built a bond with the people of Great Britain through a seemingly endless series of public appearances as she opened libraries, hospitals and awarded honors to deserving citizens.

Elizabeth, who on her 21st birthday dedicated her "whole life" to serving Britain and the Commonwealth, ruled out the idea of ​​abdicating. Royal insiders say the way she became queen is one of the reasons abdication was not an option for her. When she was born in 1926, she was not expected to ever become a monarch. However, her uncle Edward VIII abdicated because of his love for American Wallis Simpson. That union was unacceptable to the British establishment, so a constitutional crisis arose and the crown passed to Elizabeth's father, George VI, when she was ten years old.

"It's a job for a lifetime," Elizabeth once said, repeating the promise she made in 1947.

Addressing the nation during a tour of South Africa, she said: "I declare before all of you that my whole life, be it long or short, will be dedicated to serving you and our great royal family to which we all belong."

It's a promise she repeated on the 60th anniversary of her coronation, and when senior aides at Buckingham Palace asked her if handing over the throne was possible, they got the same answer: "For life means for life."

However, the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in April last year reminded the country that the reign of the only monarch most people in Britain have ever known is coming to an end. During the funeral, which was limited to just 30 mourners due to covid restrictions, the queen was forced to sit alone, wearing a black face mask, as she said goodbye to the man who had been by her side for more than 70 years.

Witness and author of contemporary history

"This is the saddest day for our country because it had a unique and simple power to make us happy. That's why we loved her. This is why we mourn Elizabeth the Great, the longest-serving monarch and in many ways the best monarch in our history," said former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"One of her best achievements is that she not only modernized the constitutional monarchy, but created an heir to her throne who is worthy of her legacy, and whose sense of duty is in keeping with the best traditions of his mother and country. Although our voices are shaking due to grief, we can confidently say words that have not been heard in this country for more than seven decades. God save the king.”

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that Queen Elizabeth II never "failed to show us the importance of enduring values ​​in the modern world with her service and commitment."

"Queen Elizabeth II's extraordinary reign has overseen key developments in the 20th and 21st centuries. The EU pays tribute to her unique contribution to building peace and reconciliation. While her loss will be felt around the world, our thoughts are with her family and the people of Great Britain," said the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the Queen was "a woman who shaped a century". "She was a witness and author of modern history."

"She was one of my favorite people in the world," said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an address to journalists.

”As the UK's longest-serving and longest-serving head of state, Queen Elizabeth has been admired around the world for her grace, dignity and commitment. Her presence was reassuring during decades of great change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth. She was a good friend of the United Nations... dedicated to many humanitarian and environmental goals...," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"In a world of constant change, her presence has provided stability and been a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who do not know their country without her," US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill said in a statement. "Her legacy will be a huge part of British history, and the story of our world."