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WEKU
WEKU
Frank Langfitt

Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch who brought stability to a changing nation

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth I Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor Prince Philip London Britain King Charles III Duke of Edinburgh AFPGetty Images Buckingham Palace
  • Queen Elizabeth II poses in her coronation attire in the throne room of Buckingham Palace in London, after her coronation on June 2, 1953.
    Queen Elizabeth II poses in her coronation attire in the throne room of Buckingham Palace in London, after her coronation on June 2, 1953.
    AP
  • King George VI, Queen Elizabeth I, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret attend the presentation of Archers ceremony on July 12, 1937, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
    King George VI, Queen Elizabeth I, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret attend the presentation of Archers ceremony on July 12, 1937, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
    AP
  • Princess Elizabeth, 14-year-old heiress apparent to the British throne, broadcasts to British girls and boys evacuated overseas in October 1940, from London. She is joined in bidding good night to her listeners by her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
    Princess Elizabeth, 14-year-old heiress apparent to the British throne, broadcasts to British girls and boys evacuated overseas in October 1940, from London. She is joined in bidding good night to her listeners by her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
    AP
  • Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, depart Westminster Abbey, London, on Nov. 20, 1947, following their wedding service.
    Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, depart Westminster Abbey, London, on Nov. 20, 1947, following their wedding service.
    AP
  • Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Philip, play with son Charles, Prince of Wales (left) and daughter Princess Anne, circa 1951.
    Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Philip, play with son Charles, Prince of Wales (left) and daughter Princess Anne, circa 1951.
    AFP/Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive in Trafalgar Square by royal carriage on June 2, 1953. The Queen was solemnly crowned at Westminster Abbey in London that day.
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive in Trafalgar Square by royal carriage on June 2, 1953. The Queen was solemnly crowned at Westminster Abbey in London that day.
    AFP/Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II arrives at King's Cross railway station in London in October 1969 with her four corgis after spending the holidays in Balmoral Castle in Scotland and before welcoming at Buckingham Palace the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, during which the first man walked on the moon.
    Queen Elizabeth II arrives at King's Cross railway station in London in October 1969 with her four corgis after spending the holidays in Balmoral Castle in Scotland and before welcoming at Buckingham Palace the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, during which the first man walked on the moon.
    AFP/Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit with Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta in 1972.
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit with Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta in 1972.
    William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II chats with U.S. President Ronald Reagan during a ride through the grounds of Windsor Castle in June 1982, during a three-day presidential visit to Britain.
    Queen Elizabeth II chats with U.S. President Ronald Reagan during a ride through the grounds of Windsor Castle in June 1982, during a three-day presidential visit to Britain.
    Bob Daugherty/AP
  • Queen Elizabeth II, followed by Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, and Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, arrive for the State Opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 6, 1984.
    Queen Elizabeth II, followed by Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, and Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, arrive for the State Opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 6, 1984.
    Bob Dear/AP
  • Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, view the floral tributes and other mementos to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, at London's Buckingham Palace, on Sept. 5 1997.
    Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, view the floral tributes and other mementos to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, at London's Buckingham Palace, on Sept. 5 1997.
    AP
  • Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 5, 2012, to conclude the four-day Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
    Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 5, 2012, to conclude the four-day Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
    Lefteris Pitarakis/AP
  • Queen Elizabeth II attends the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Windsor Cup polo match and a carriage driving display by the British Driving Society at Guards Polo Club, Smith's Lawn on July 11, 2021 in Egham, England.
    Queen Elizabeth II attends the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Windsor Cup polo match and a carriage driving display by the British Driving Society at Guards Polo Club, Smith's Lawn on July 11, 2021 in Egham, England.
    Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

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LONDON — Four years before she took the throne as Queen Elizabeth II, she made a pledge.

"I declare before you that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong," the 21-year-old Elizabeth Alexandra Mary then said.

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