On the 8th of September 2022, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had died peacefully at the age of 96. She was the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, succeeding her father in 1952. Her reign saw the nation undergo huge economic, political, and technological changes, transforming the country from an imperial power to a modern, diverse nation-state. Her reign spanned 15 different Prime Ministers, meeting with them weekly. Her death is mourned by all, as she had defined the modern British state over her 70-year reign. A central point of her legacy has been the growth and success of the Commonwealth, which has fostered close political and economic ties between its 56 member states.
The first decade of Queen Elizabeth’s reign saw decolonisation across the globe as the British Empire ended and numerous states gained their independence. From this, waves of immigration in the 1960s contributed to British society becoming far more diverse and global, with a huge variety of cultures and ethnic minority communities becoming established throughout the country. Since the 1960s, societal change has increased opportunities for all citizens of the UK, yet the Queen has provided the stability necessary to ensure that the nation has grown stronger throughout these decades of change.
This Commonwealth was described by the former Queen in 1959, as “a free association of independent states”. As Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth became the central figure in a global community, created to foster cooperation between Britain and former imperial colonies, but upon an equal footing as fully independent nations. In this position, she promoted unity and closeness between nations, remaining a hugely popular figure even in nations which would become republics during her reign. As the head of the community for almost all of its modern iteration, she has helped uphold and promote the shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law throughout her reign.
Tributes have been paid to Queen Elizabeth II from across the globe, with Prime Minister Liz Truss saying:
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.
In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and the world to celebrate her extraordinary life of service. It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy. God save the King.”
Tributes also came in from leaders of Commonwealth members, such as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari said:
“The story of modern Nigeria will never be complete without a chapter on Queen Elizabeth II, a towering global personality, and an outstanding leader. She dedicated her life to making her nation, the Commonwealth, and the entire world a better place”.
Across her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II has presided over huge changes within Britain and in global politics. She has remained a stable figurehead and universally recognised leader throughout this time, helping guide the nation as it navigated its new position in a diverse and interconnected world. Her death will be mourned by all.