Queen Elizabeth II: An Extraordinary Life of Purpose

By: Hazuk Asghar

PHOTO BY BIBLIOARCHIVES/LIBRARYARCHIVES VIA FLICKR PHOTO BY JULIAN CALDER ON WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

You know her as the official head of Canada and the Commonwealth of Nations. Her face is on the Canadian currency, whether on a 20-dollar bill or a quarter. She has graced the cover of international magazines and newspapers, and has reigned alongside 12 British prime ministers and 13 American presidents. If that isn’t enough, she has ruled over the British monarchy for more than 65 years and became the longest serving monarch in modern history in 2015. In case you haven’t guessed it as yet, I am speaking of none other than Queen Elizabeth II. Often cited as one of the most famous female leaders in the world, Queen Elizabeth II is the epitome of a leader who has led a meaningful life of purpose and service and has led her nation from the 20th century and into the modern era.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926 to the House of Windsor and was the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York. At the time of her birth, she was third in the line of succession to the British throne, behind her father and her uncle Edward, who would later become the King of England after the death of King George V. However, the life of the young princess was forever changed when Edward VIII abdicated the throne, forcing Elizabeth’s parents to become King and Queen in 1937. Life for the young princess and her sister was dramatically transformed as Elizabeth became the ‘heiress presumptive’ and would be next in line to ascend to the throne. However, this moment would come sooner rather than later, as the stress of the war years took a toll on her father. He died 15 years after becoming King. Consequently, in 1952, at the age of 25, the young princess ascended the British throne and became the new sovereign.

From the time of her accession, the Queen’s position as the head of the Commonwealth and of their respective nations was already established, most notably due to the reign of previous British monarchs who governed over former colonies. However, her reign is unique in the sense that it witnessed a significant evolution in the structure and composition of the Commonwealth from the 20th century and into the 21st century. It began in 1956, when the probability of France to join the Commonwealth was proposed to the UK but was eventually refused. While unsuccessful, this attempt marked the beginning of a series of modifications and desire for change by other countries who sought to reform their alliances with Britain.

In particular, the decades of the 1960s and into the 1970s were particularly challenging for the Queen, as she witnessed the acceleration of decolonization, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean, and a gradual movement to the formation of independent sovereign states. During this time, over 20 nations gained their independence from Britain and adopted a method of self-governance, including Kenya. Such shifts illustrated how Britain’s ties with its former imperial states were weakened, and how the empire was slowly losing control over newly autonomous nations who were formerly part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Concurrently, the Queen was facing domestic political challenges. The structure of the UK Parliament was continuously evolving as new parties were formed or came into power, and Britain took part in an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Suez Canal. This series of events led to the resignation of Prime Minister Eden, but it also made UK allies question the significance of the Crown in a world characterized by social, political, and economic change.

Despite the constant shifts and transitions during her reign, Queen Elizabeth II has remained true to the pledge she gave on her 21st birthday: “I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

In the process of living up to these words, the Queen’s legacy features both a transition and a decline. According to the historian David Cannadine, she has led during an era of change in Britain, characterized by its transition to a more fluid, multicultural and secular society. This also included the downsizing of the British empire and Commonwealth of Nations, which consequently led to a decline in British power at the international level. Despite these changes and challenges, Queen Elizabeth II has been a symbol of orderly management during times of domestic and international evolution and shifts in power. Consequently, she is known for upholding a steadfast mentality and countenance during times of instability, change, and crises. This enables her to effortlessly manage the tedious duties of the monarchy while still ensuring its relevance in the modern era.

It is for this reason that Her Majesty the Queen is worthy of praise for her extraordinary life of purpose and service. She has always led with dignity and grace and serves as a constant in British society that is both reassuring and admirable. While she has witnessed a significant amount of social and political change during her reign, the Queen embodies all the qualities of a female leader whose legacy is worthy of attention and admiration: character, dignity, and tenacity, to name a few. It is these traits and qualities that have been integral in allowing her to reign for over 60 years, and to ensure the continuing relevance of the Crown from the 20th and into the 21st century. While many people, including myself, are unfamiliar of a life without a monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has certainly cemented herself as one of the most prominent female leaders in the world.