The Queen Passes

 Queen Elizabeth 2 of the United Kingdom has passed away yesterday 8th September 2022 at her summer home at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was 96 years old and had been the Queen for 70 years since 1952. 

Condolences to her family and the British people over the loss of their longest reigning Queen.

Her oldest son Charles, 73 will now assume the throne as King Charles. 

 

Elizabeth Regina

 

The Queen does have a special place in the fate of a huge part of the world, including our country Malaysia, because it was during her reign that almost the entire British Empire was unwound. Dozens of new independent countries and self governing territories were born during her reign. Of course she was not personally responsible for granting independence to the former colonies but the Royal Family is certainly not without its influence in Britain.

Her last visit to Malaysia was in 1998 to officiate at the Commonwealth Games (September 2nd 1998) that were held here.

In the last year of the Second World War in 1945 she joined the Army (at the age of 19) as a mechanic and learned to drive, service and repair Army trucks and other military vehicles. Here is a short video of Princess Elizabeth as an Army mechanic and driver during the war. The Queen still drove her Land Rover well into her 90s.

 

Her son Charles will now take over the throne. At the age of 73 King Charles certainly had to wait for a long time to ascend the throne.

For reasons best known to herself the Queen did not abdicate any earlier in favour of her son. Her good friend Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated at the age of 73 to make way for her son to become King. 

British queens are known to rule till the end of their lives. Queen Elizabeth 1st ruled for 45 years until her death in 1603. Queen Victoria, who was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland until just 25 years before Elizabeth was born, ruled for 64 years until her death in 1901. 

Victoria ruled over the largest expanse of the British Empire and also at its greatest power and glory. 51 years later Elizabeth saw the dismantling of the Empire. 

Long live the King and may he bring peace, prosperity and friendship among all peoples.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.