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It's Your Week: The end of a historic reign

Sallee Ann Harrison   | Paste BN

Queen Elizabeth II was the only monarch most of her subjects ever knew. On Thursday, her reign, the longest in British history, came to an end with her death. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was 96.

👋 Sallee Ann here, and welcome to Your Week, our newsletter exclusively for Paste BN subscribers.

This week we dive into the illustrious life of Elizabeth, what's ahead for King Charles III and, of course, the corgis.

Who was Elizabeth?

Elizabeth took the throne in 1952 when her father, King George VI, died at age 56. She was 25 years old. She was modest, even shy. She became the most famous woman in the world and the most photographed and depicted person in history. She met with 15 prime ministers and 14 U.S. presidents. It's estimated she shook hands with at least 4 million people during her reign.

She led Britain during the post-World War II recovery, the last gasps of the empire, the Cold War, the war on terrorism and the coronavirus pandemic.

And she did it in style, with colorful hats and sensible shoes. 

In February, two weeks after her Platinum Jubilee, it was announced she had tested positive for COVID-19. Elizabeth enjoyed robust health most of her life, but lingering “mobility issues,” the palace said, took a toll in her final months. She increasingly handed over duties to her son and heir, Charles, from the recreational to the constitutional. 

Elizabeth was preceded in death by Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years. Philip died April 9, 2021, at age 99.

British historians and commentators often say Philip was one of the keys to Elizabeth's enduring success as a monarch. The queen famously described him as her "strength and stay" at the couple's golden wedding anniversary in 1997. 

Buckingham Palace announced Saturday that the queen's state funeral will be held Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey. President Joe Biden confirmed Friday he will attend. If you're interested in traveling to England for the funeral, here's what you should know. 

For more on the queen's life in front of and behind the public eye, read our extensive obituary.

What's next?

Charles immediately became king upon his mother's death, taking the title King Charles III. He was formally proclaimed as monarch on Saturday in an accession ceremony at St James's Palace in London. The order of succession then goes to Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Princess Louis, Prince Harry and so on.

Succession is easy, though. What's trickier is how and which roles and duties will be taken on by royal relatives under a king who has been vocal about scaling back the British monarchy in response to calls to reduce taxpayer support for the extended royal family.

But in scaling back, the king will be walking a tightrope, experts say. While having fewer working royals on the payroll may appeal to some people, such a reduction may inherently detract from the pomp and circumstance that gives this centuries-old institution its appeal. More on who's in, who's out and how to maintain an "air of majesty."

Then there's Camilla. As King Charles III takes the throne, by his side is Queen Camilla. Yes, "Queen." There's a reason she gets the title of Queen ("Queen Consort," technically), while Prince Philip was simply a prince. And the reason is actually because of Elizabeth.

A whole lot of other things are changing, too. Not only is there a new monarch, there will also be a new national anthem, money, stamps and flags. Here's what we expect to change across the country in the coming days, months, even years.

What are people saying?

Columnist Connie Schultz: "In my early 20s, though, it hit me that Elizabeth was just 25 when her father died at a young age, and she immediately inherited his duties and his life. ... I could suddenly see my freedom – and her captivity. Yes, she lived a life full of servants and people walking backward when exiting her company. But she loved horses and corgis, and being outdoors in wellies and hunting gear, driving her own truck. She had grown up thinking she would become a wife and mother happily living in the country while her father sat on the throne. Instead, with his death, her every public moment would be scrutinized and criticized for all the days of her life." Read her full column here.

Columnist Carli Pierson: "Queen Elizabeth II was one of a kind and will be irreplaceable. But we should be kind to her family in the coming days, including her grieving son, now King Charles III. Because while he might not be the most beloved, he is absolutely up to the task of defending the monarchy. So is his son Prince William, when it is his turn to shoulder the burdens and privileges of being king." Read her full column here.

On colonialism: "We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very tragic period in this country and Africa's history," the Economic Freedom Fighters, a South African political opposition party, said in a statement. "During her 70-year reign as Queen, she never once acknowledged the atrocities that her family inflicted on native people that Britain invaded across the world." More on the debate about colonialism, slavery and British racism.

A newsletter fit for a king or queen

Subscribe to Keep Calm and Carry On, a newsletter answering all of your questions about the royal family.

And don't forget the corgis

We talked about the royal family tree and line of succession, but there's another important dynasty we shouldn't forget: the corgis.

Elizabeth's family got their first corgi, Dookie, when the future queen was 7. When she was 18 and a princess, she was gifted Susan the corgi. Susan went on to lead the royal corgi family tree.

Elizabeth had 30 corgis throughout her life, so many at one time that Princess Diana once called them "a moving carpet." 

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