Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; April 21, 1926 – September 8, 2022) reigned as Queen over the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms from February 6, 1952, until her passing in 2022. She held the position of queen regnant for 32 sovereign states throughout her life, ultimately being the monarch for 15 realms at her demise. With a reign spanning over 70 years, she holds the record for the lengthiest rule among British monarchs and any verified female head of state in history. Born in London's Mayfair during the rule of her paternal grandfather, King George V, Elizabeth was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later known as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her father's accession to the throne in 1936 placed her as the ten-year-old heir presumptive. Her education took place at home, and during World War II, she engaged in public duties through her service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, and their marriage endured for 73 years until his death in 2021. Their four children are Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. Upon her father's passing in 1952, Elizabeth, then 25, became queen of seven independent Commonwealth nations, and head of the Commonwealth itself. As a constitutional monarch, her reign witnessed significant political changes, such as Northern Ireland's Troubles, UK devolution, African decolonization, and the UK's European Communities membership and later withdrawal. Over time, the number of her realms changed due to the independence of territories and the establishment of republics. Throughout her life, Elizabeth was served by over 170 prime ministers across her realms. Her historical engagements included state visits to China (1986), Russia (1994), and the Republic of Ireland (2011), as well as meetings with five popes and fourteen US presidents. Noteworthy moments encompass her 1953 coronation and celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022. While facing occasional republican sentiment and media scrutiny—particularly concerning her family's challenges and tragedies—support for the monarchy in the UK and her personal popularity remained consistently high. In September 2022, Elizabeth passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland's Aberdeenshire, succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.

Elizabeth II - Wikipedia