There were undoubted low points, but the mass outpourings of affection on her silver, golden and diamond jubilees testified to the special place she held for millions. The following year, she shook hands in Belfast with the Sinn Féin politician Martin McGuinness, putting aside the personal tragedy of the IRA assassination of “Uncle Dickie”, Lord Mountbatten, her distant cousin and Philip’s uncle. The late Queen was the longest-reigning British monarch, and the longest-serving female head of state in recorded history. Before passing under Tower Bridge, Elizabeth lit the National Millennium Beacon in the Pool of London using a laser torch.

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022 | Latest news and photos

With Elizabeth's accession, it seemed possible that the royal house would take her husband's name, in line with the custom for married women of the time. d] On Elizabeth's instruction, her coronation gown was embroidered with the floral emblems of Commonwealth countries. Queen Mary, King George VI's mother, stands at the left in front of the bridesmaids next to Princess Alice of Battenberg, Philip's mother. In May 2007, citing unnamed sources, The Daily Telegraph reported that Elizabeth was "exasperated and frustrated" by the policies of Tony Blair, that she was concerned the British Armed Forces were overstretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that she had raised concerns over rural and countryside issues with Blair. During the tour, crowds were immense; three-quarters of the population of Australia were estimated to have seen her.An estimated 250,000 members of the public filed past the coffin, as did politicians and other public figures. In the 1950s and 60s Britain welcomed people from places all around the world, like Asia and the Caribbean. During the singing of Auld Lang Syne, Elizabeth held hands with Philip and British prime minister Tony Blair.

Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2002 | The Flag Institute HM Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2002 | The Flag Institute

On 9July, she awoke in her bedroom at Buckingham Palace to find an intruder, Michael Fagan, in the room with her. Protesters chanted "Killer Queen, go back", [167] and there were demands for her to apologise for the action of British troops 78 years earlier. The group to the right of the couple includes King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with Princess Alice of Athlone, plus bridesmaids including Princess Margaret, stood next to Prince Philip.

This marked the only time she did not receive a new prime minister at Buckingham Palace during her reign. At the memorial in the park, she and Philip laid a wreath and stood for a 30‑second moment of silence.