E·liz·a·beth II

Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare.

Grief is the price we pay for love.

I have to be seen to be believed.

Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.

It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained.

It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the hard progress of humankind.

What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass.

For me, heaven is likely to be a bit of a come-down.

I should like to be a horse.

Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor II was born in London on April 21, 1926, and passed away on September 8, 2022 in Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Elizabeth II reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland from 1952 - 2022, making her the longest reigning monarch in British history. Following the onset of the second World War, thirteen year old Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by her sister the Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon migrated to Windsor Castle whilst her parents King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) remained at Buckingham Palace. In a rather daunting moment of happenstance, Buckingham Palace was bombed by German forces during the Blitz in 1940 on September 8. Incredibly, the fifty kilogram armament did not detonate on impact but was destroyed later in a controlled explosion. Upon reaching the age of eighteen, Elizabeth II enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Territory Service in 1945, satisfying her desire to fulfill her calling to duty. Elizabeth II trained for six weeks as an auto-mechanic & her role in WWII established her affinity for cars and the profession of mechanics. Elizabeth II commanded a sense of stability & consistency in royal life that was simply never before seen. Upon her coronation, the Commonwealth included eight member states -- frail in comparison to the current fifty-four member states in the Commonwealth. Her willingness to embrace change and modernise the perception of the royal family led to her becoming one of the most cherished figures in British history. Elizabeth II married Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947; they had four children -- King Charles III, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, & Prince Edward. Being that the Queen's initial mentor was Sir Winston Churchill, it is no surprise that she was the first British monarch to make an address to the United States Congress. Bringing the Land of the Free & Old Blighty together has stayed in keeping with the Queen's stout legacy but perhaps if there is one thing Queen Elizabeth II will truly be remembered for, it is that of her proclivity for humor. Ingratiated in pomp & circumstance, she made an appearance at the London Olympic's opening ceremony in 2012, accompanied in film with James Bond. Other appearances have seen Her Grace fraternising over marmalade sandwiches with Paddington Bear. The incandescent, illustrious smile of Lilibet will be one that survives throughout the ages, her grace, known to all, will never be forgotten. On one occasion when the Queen was making her rounds around Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland while accompanied by her protection officer Richard Griffin, the two came into contact with a couple of American tourists. Stopping to say hello, it became clear that the Americans were unaware of the Monarch's identity; proceeding to question her about the whereabouts of her living space. In light of this, the Queen replied stating that she resided in London but possessed a house 'Just over the hill.' Responding, the American tourist questioned how long she had been making appearances to Balmoral and the Queen wittily replied, 'Eighty years.' Intrigued, the tourist questioned if she had met the Queen -- to which Lizzy replied by informing the tourist that she had not but that Richard ('Dick') met with her regularly. Directing his attention to Richard, the tourist questioned Griffin as to what the Queen was like in person, to which Richard replied, 'She can be very cantankerous at times, but she's got a lovely sense of humour.' The American immediately gave his camera to the Queen and requested a picture with Richard. Needless to say, Richard & Elizabeth II swapped places and unbeknownst to the tourist he was granted a photo with Her Majesty. Informing Richard that she would love to be a fly on the wall to see the reactions of the tourist's fellow friends' faces upon glimpsing such photo; this anecdote is yet another piece to the magnificence of Elizabeth II's subtle, sapient, & most of all, fly rule. May God Save the Queen.