After reigning for 70 years and being the United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8th, 2022 at the age of 96. Queen Elizabeth II lived a very honourable life. To acknowledge and cherish her legacy, I will list a few facts you might have not known. Following that, I will mention some of the changes that we might soon be seeing in Canada.
Photo from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61605149
1. Queen Elizabeth II was not expected to succeed to the throne.
In 1936, Queen Elizabeth’s uncle, King Edward VIII, renounced his throne to marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth’s father, George VI, then became King, but passed away at the age of 56 from a coronary thrombosis. Elizabeth flew back to Britain from Kenya and was called upon to assume the throne at 25 years old.
2. Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband, Prince Philip, had the monarchy’s longest running love story.
Just before World War II, the 18-year-old Prince Philip of Greece met his third cousin, thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth, during her family’s visit to the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth—where Philip was studying. They continued to exchange letters through the war years, and finally got married on November 14, 1947, in Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately, on April 9, 2021, after 73 years of marriage, Prince Philip died at the age of 99.
3. Queen Elizabeth II enlisted into the military.
Elizabeth wanted to enlist as soon as she came of age in 1944, but of course the royal family would not allow their heir to be put into danger. However, she did not take no for an answer, and in 1945 at the age of 19, she was given permission to join the military. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and trained as an auto mechanic for 6 weeks.
What is going to happen now?
As of September 8th—the day of the Queen’s passing—Elizabeth’s eldest son, Charles the Prince of Wales, assumed the British throne at the age of 73. Although he was not officially crowned King Charles III until the Accession Council, he is now the next and current monarch. The Accession Council would have taken place at St. James’ Palace in London within 24 hours of the Queen’s death. This event was the first of its kind televised.
In Canada, the question remains of whether the portrait of the Queen on the $20 bill will stay or if it will change to King Charles III. Many sources have revealed that it is highly unlikely that we will see the King as he is now on any of the bills. Not only that, but it is foreseen that the bills that have already been printed with the Queen will continue to circulate for the next several years.
Next, another question that some people may have is whether the King will have more power in Canada than the Queen did. The answer to that is no. The monarch of Britain only plays a symbolic role in Canada and will continue to do so. The debate on whether Canada should continue to have ties with Britain is never ending, but nothing drastic has or will change soon.
All in all, Queen Elizabeth II lived a long and beautiful life, and she made a huge impact on the lives of many. Not only was she a monarch for the United Kingdom, but for the many commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, Singapore, and more. She will lay forever in our hearts, and her memory will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace.
Sources:
The Canadian Press. “With the Death of Queen Elizabeth II, What Happens to Canadian Bills and Coins?” CP24, September 8, 2022. https://www.cp24.com/news/with-the-death-of-queen-elizabeth-ii-what-happens-to-canadian-bills-and-coins-1.6060610.
Cauterucci, Christina, Molly Olmstead, and Heather Schwedel. “The Queen Is Dead! What the Hell Happens Now?” Slate Magazine. Slate, September 8, 2022. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/09/queen-elizabeth-king-charles-funeral-coronation.html.
Somers, Jeff. “Queen Elizabeth II’s Most Notable Accomplishments.” Grunge.com. Grunge, September 9, 2022. https://www.grunge.com/680882/queen-elizabeth-iis-most-notable-accomplishments/.
McCabe, Sophie. “The Queen Has Died – What Happens Now?” Express.co.uk. Express.co.uk, September 10, 2022. https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1666564/queen-death-plan-what-next-operation-london-bridge-unicorn-spt.