The Queen: 1926–2022

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Wyatt, Woodrow (1999), Curtis, Sarah (ed.), The Journals of Woodrow Wyatt, vol.II, Macmillan, ISBN 0-3337-7405-1 In 1956, the British and French prime ministers, Sir Anthony Eden and Guy Mollet, discussed the possibility of France joining the Commonwealth. The proposal was never accepted, and the following year France signed the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union. [83] In November 1956, Britain and France invaded Egypt in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to capture the Suez Canal. Lord Mountbatten said Elizabeth was opposed to the invasion, though Eden denied it. Eden resigned two months later. [84] With Commonwealth leaders at the 1960 Commonwealth Conference

On behalf of English Heritage, I would like to express my deep sadness at the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and offer my sincere condolences to the Royal Family. Queen Threatens to Sue Newspaper", Associated Press News, London, 3 February 1993, archived from the original on 7 April 2022 , retrieved 27 December 2021 Goodey, Emma (5 February 2022), "Accession Day 2022", Royal Family, archived from the original on 20 February 2022 , retrieved 8 September 2022 Queen gives George Cross to NHS for staff's 'courage and dedication' ", BBC News, 5 July 2021, archived from the original on 7 April 2022 , retrieved 5 July 2021 Over the course of her long reign, she prided herself on being a hard-working servant to her people. Even as a young princess, she said in a speech: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”

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When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (known today as Sri Lanka), as well as head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and withdrawal from the European Union. The number of her realms varied over time as territories gained independence and some realms became republics. As queen, Elizabeth was served by more than 170 prime ministers across her realms. Her many historic visits and meetings included state visits to China in 1986, to Russia in 1994, and to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, and meetings with five popes and fourteen US presidents. While maintaining her customary neutrality and rarely taking up a public position on an issue, during that visit The Queen chose to tour Newnham and Girton, both Colleges for women – perhaps a quiet signal of support. In 1948 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had been the first woman admitted to a degree in the Senate House. Berry, Ciara (15 January 2016), "Personal flags", The Royal Family, Royal Household, archived from the original on 7 May 2016 , retrieved 18 April 2016

Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium Announces Broadcast Details for London 2012 Opening Ceremony, Friday", PR Newswire, 24 July 2012, archived from the original on 2 April 2015 , retrieved 22 March 2015 World leaders have been paying tribute to The Queen. US President Joe Biden said: “In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride”. The Queen gives a speech at Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession. In it, she refers to recent events as part of an “annus horribilis”. 9 December 1992Queen falls victim to radio hoaxer", The Independent, 28 October 1995, archived from the original on 3 June 2022 , retrieved 8 September 2022 A year later, at the height of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, the Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam, was dismissed from his post by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, after the Opposition-controlled Senate rejected Whitlam's budget proposals. [108] As Whitlam had a majority in the House of Representatives, Speaker Gordon Scholes appealed to Elizabeth to reverse Kerr's decision. She declined, saying she would not interfere in decisions reserved by the Constitution of Australia for the governor-general. [109] The crisis fuelled Australian republicanism. [108] Leaders of the G7 states, members of the royal family and Elizabeth (centre), London, 1977 Adams, Charley (14 April 2022), "Prince Charles stands in for Queen at Maundy Service", BBC News, archived from the original on 6 June 2022 , retrieved 8 September 2022