Obaba Museum

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her the foremost monarch as the Queen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland , the leader of the Commonwealth and ruler of fifteen sovereign states. It’s been top of the news since she died on the 8th of September 2022. Exactly 214 days after she celebrated her platinum jubilee on the throne.

This makes her not only the longest reigning British monarch but also the longest living British monarch and the second longest reigning monarch second only to Louis XIV of France.

The Queen ascended the throne on the 6th of February 1952, taking over after the passing of her Father King George the VI. King George VI who was the second son of King George V inherited the throne from his Elder brother King Edward VIII who had abdicated the throne in order to marry the two time divorcee American socialite Walls Simpson .

Thus Elizabeth inherited the throne and decided to use Elizabeth also as her Regnal name making her Queen Elizabeth II(Elizabeth the second). Some notable events during her reign are;

• rapid décolonisation from the 1960s,

• being the first British monarch as ruler of Australia and New Zealand to visit the countries.

• Visiting most of Britain’s Colonies

• First British monarch to visit Communist countries, Yugoslavia(1972) and China(1986) and also Post communist Russia in 1994.

• British monarch who has seen the most prime ministers, a total of fifteen.

Dying two days after appointing the next prime Minister Liz Truss in Scotland, Opération London Bridge was commenced in addition to Operation Unicorn because she had died in Scotland.

It might be a bit unfair though but slightly logical to say the Queen’s death although due to old age was hastened by the death of her husband, Prince Philip who died just about a year ago at 99.

Following her death, in order to show respect for the monarch, on the day of her death and the day of the funeral, the British stock exchange, businesses, banks and shops would close for the day. The funeral is estimated to be 12 days after her death.

Prince Charles, the Queen’s first son becomes King on the day of her death (although his coronation will be a year later) and makes his first speech as King on that day. Also, all currencies, stamps and any other national document with the Queen’s name becomes changed to the new King’s

The Queen’s reign of 70 years makes it even older than a majority of British citizens. However, King Charles has been handling most of the Queen’s duties including leading the Commonwealth about a year ago so it’s expected that it would be a smooth -though not completely hitch-free- transition for the people of Britain and the whole world though it would take some time to finally get used to the New Monarch.

With this we can say welcome to the ‘Charlesian’ Era definitely wouldn’t be as long as the Queen’s but hope it’s a peaceful era and pray it brings good tidings.