Life of DUTY

As the nation mourns a remarkable lady who gave her life to service, Woman takes a look back at the Queen’s most extraordinary moments

A future Queen is born

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York, was born at her maternal grandfather’s house in Mayfair, London. Becoming Queen wasn’t always in Elizabeth’s life trajectory, as it wasn’t until her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 that her life changed forever.

Wearing more than one hat (or in this case, crown)

When Edward VIII chose to follow his heart and marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, the Queen’s father George VI set about his new position as monarch. But his sudden death from lung cancer in 1952 meant that Elizabeth took over the huge role. At the tender age of 25 – and as a mother-of-two – she became the first female British monarch since her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, when she was officially crowned Queen Elizabeth II.

A woman of the world

As Queen, Head of the Commonwealth and head of state for 32 countries in her lifetime, Her Majesty had her fair share of meet-and-greets. But whether it was a world leader, celebrity or member of the public’s hand she was shaking, she treated everyone equally – even greeting former IRA senior member Martin Mcguinness with respect (right), despite the IRA having killed the Queen’s second cousin Lord Mountbatten in 1979.

Losing Philip, her ‘strength and stay’

After a 73-year marriage, the Queen sat alone to say goodbye to her beloved Prince Philip at his funeral in April 2021. Philip’s death, aged 99, came during the COVID-19 pandemic and his funeral was held while social-distancing rules were still in place. The Queen, dressed in black, wore a mask as she sat surrounded by empty pews in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and was seen wiping tears from her eyes during the heartbreaking moments.

Forever dutiful

Up until the very end Her Majesty remained committed to her country, carrying out duties despite failing health and even welcoming her 15th and final prime minister, Liz Truss, just two days before she passed. But it was her ability to ditch the British stiff upper lip through witty sketches with Paddington Bear and James Bond that gave us an insight into the woman she really was; a mother and grandmother to all.