Second Saturday Shout-out: Queen Elizabeth II
This month, we have chosen to honor the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II for our Second Saturday Shoutout. With a reign of 70 years, the Queen’s impact was widespread across the world and across generations.
Queen Elizabeth rose to the throne in 1952, however before that, the future queen still was inspiring the British people. During World War 2, the Queen became the first female member of the royal family to join the armed services, where she was a part of the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service as a driver and mechanic.
Once she became queen, Elizabeth focused on strengthening ties with the former British colonies and under her leadership, the Commonwealth went from 8 members to 54 members. The Commonwealth is essentially an association of the now independent countries that were once under British rule. These countries are self-governing, yet still have allegiance to the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth also strengthened ties with the US, being the first British monarch to address a meeting of the US Congress.
Academically, the Queen received four doctorate degrees in the fields of civil law, music, and general law (twice). She has also won an honorary BAFTA award for her support of the British arts, film, and television industry. The Queen was a very accomplished woman!
The Queen sadly passed away at 96 years old on September 8th, 2022. She was the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, as well as the second longest reigning monarch in all of history. She steered her country through a post-colonialism world, multiple wars, and tensions with other countries. Her legacy will live on for generations to come. Rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth II and thank you for everything that you have done.
