Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned as the United Kingdom's monarch for 70 years, passed away in September 2022. Her long reign made her the longest-reigning British monarch and the second-longest reigning monarch of a sovereign country. She ascended to the throne in 1952 and her tenure saw significant social and political change, including the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean, and the entry of the UK into the European Economic Community and its subsequent withdrawal. Throughout her reign, she was a symbol of stability and continuity for the nation and the Commonwealth. Her death marked the end of an era and led to widespread mourning and a period of national reflection. Her son, Charles III, succeeded her as King. While not directly mentioned in recent news snippets about Australian politics or British art, her historical significance and the impact of her reign remain a subject of ongoing discussion and remembrance.