Celebrating The Late Queen Elizabeth’s Life On What Could’ve Been Her 98th Birthday

Apr 19, 2024 by apost team

Queen Elizabeth II was an extraordinary woman who achieved a lot in her 96 years prior to her passing in September 2022. She was the Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 Commonwealth realms for over 70 years, which is an incredible feat. Furthermore, her lengthy reign earned her a score of titles, including one of the longest-reigning monarchs in human history. 

She held a whole host of titles to her name. These included the longest-reigning and longest-lived British monarch, the longest-serving female head of state in history, and the world's longest-reigning current monarch, oldest living monarch, and the longest-serving and oldest current head of state. When Elizabeth became the longest-reigning British monarch in September 2015, it was actually her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who she overtook. Elizabeth certainly had an impressive reign.

Her early life before she became the queen was just as fascinating as the long time she held the throne, and in fact, she wasn't always destined to become the ruling monarch. The queen was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, and was the eldest daughter of King George VI and Elizabeth, Duchess of York. At birth, she was not first in the line of succession, but after her uncle abdicated the throne and her father became King, she became next in line.

As a little girl, the queen was affectionately addressed as “Lillibet” by her loved ones, and this nickname would later mean so much to her upon the passing of her beloved husband, Prince Philip. After her father, King George VI, died in February 1952, Elizabeth was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth at just 27 years old on June 2, 1953.

On what would have been her 98th birthday, we look back on Elizabeth’s extraordinary life.

When Elizabeth was just 21 years old and had yet to take the throne, she had already publicly pledged to serve the commonwealth. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service,” she said.

In terms of a royal love story, Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s was one for the ages. They announced their engagement on July 8, 1947, and married a few months later, on November 20, 1947, in Westminster Abbey. The following year, Elizabeth gave birth to King Charles III, their first child. They had four children in total — Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The queen and Prince Philip’s 73-year marriage and love story of a lifetime was truly an inspiration. Unlike many royal marriages that are arranged matches, this marriage was based entirely on love.

Sadly, Philip passed away aged 99 in April 2021, mere weeks before Elizabeth’s 95th birthday. He was the oldest-ever male member of the British royal family. The queen was said to be heartbroken after losing her “strength and stay.”

On September 8, 2022, Elizabeth passed away, her reign coming to an end. She passed away while at her home in Balmoral after Buckingham Palace had earlier announced that she was under medical attention. It was a devastating day for the royal family as many members gathered to be by her side in her final moments. 

While many mourned the death of Her Majesty, some saw a silver lining following her passing: a moment to celebrate the life she had lived while serving the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms until her last breath. 

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The queen would have turned 98 on April 21, 2024. Looking back, she celebrated her birthdays grandly. According to Insider, she celebrated her birthday twice a year – once on her actual birthday and again on a Saturday in June each year. This was because the weather was so unpredictable in April that British sovereigns had long since opted to celebrate in warmer months to ensure better weather for a birthday parade.

Back in 2016, a documentary film called “Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute” was released in honor of the queen’s 90th birthday. It was narrated by her son Charles and featured footage shot by the queen, Philip, Princess Margaret, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The film also featured Anne, Edward, Prince William and Prince Harry.

For the queen’s 96th birthday, the official Royal Family Instagram account celebrated by posting a nostalgic photo of Elizabeth from when she was just two years old. A never-before-seen photo of the late queen was also shared, and it showed Elizabeth alongside her passion – horses. The caption read, “First staged in 1943, The Queen has attended every single Royal Windsor Horse Show.”

Although Elizabeth is no longer with us, her memory has continued to live on. Following her passing, Charles released a heartfelt statement honoring his mother. Upon taking the throne, he said:

“Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.”

Elizabeth’s long-lasting legacy is sure to continue living on.

Balmoral had always been a place secured in the hearts of the royal family, especially with Elizabeth. The dreamy and sprawling estate is picturesquely nestled in the peaceful Scottish highlands, a setting entirely apart from the hustle and bustle of crowded London. Seen perhaps as the crown jewel of Aberdeenshire, the stately home was constructed in the 1850s under the watchful eye of then-rulers Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. 

Since her death in September 2022, reporters have effectively confirmed that the queen did indeed choose to be in her country home-away-from-home close to her passing. Vanity Fair royal correspondent Katie Nicholl said that the queen, seemingly aware the end was near, insisted on being at Balmoral Castle before her passing, as reported by Yahoo. It seems that the monarch, knowing her failing condition, understandably did not think she would come back from Scotland after having made the trip. 

Nicholl said that the queen “knew she wasn’t going to come back (to Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace). I think she wanted to be in Balmoral and she wanted to pass there.” More than a beautiful piece of Scotland, it seems Balmoral was a place where the monarch could be more than just the queen of England. 

Nicholl touched on this relationship between Elizabeth and Balmoral, explaining how the queen could be a “mother, grandmother and great-grandmother” there. Back in London, she could not freely wander around as if she were merely another civilian. However, in Scotland, she could walk in the hills — of course, accompanied by security — and be less curtailed by the duty of her position. Nicholl suggested that Balmoral enabled Elizabeth to “leave her crown at the gates.”

During Elizabeth’s funeral, her whole family was in attendance, and the world couldn’t help but notice how they all dressed for the late queen. 

According to Harpers Bazaar, members of the royal family, such as King Charles III, Prince William, and other family members with military titles, wore their ceremonial military titles. Elle reported that royal men not in the military currently were expected to wear black mourning coats with medals if they had earned any prior. 

Women in the royal family with no military experience also have a certain wardrobe they must adhere to. Due to tradition, Queen Camilla, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle wore a black wardrobe, hat, and veil. 

Harpers Bazaar reported, “The wearing of a veil is a singular royal mourning tradition. The latticed veils are a modern-day interpretation of this code. When the queen, her mother and sister attended her father’s funeral in February 1952, the veils were long and opaque.”  

The wreath used during the processional a week before the queen’s funeral bore an important significance. It paid a special tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip, as per Hello! magazine. The foliage consisted of dahlias, phlox, white heather, pine fir, and sweet peas from the Balmoral Castle, where the queen died.

Meanwhile, the wreath that sat atop the coffin of Her Majesty at her funeral was not ordinary. Each part of its foliage was carefully selected. While it was strikingly beautiful, it was also exceptional in more ways than one: the flowers included in its foliage were requested by King Charles III himself. 

In a tweet, The Royal Family revealed the wreath included “Rosemary, English Oak and Myrtle (cut from a plant grown from Myrtle in the queen’s wedding bouquet) and flowers.” Meanwhile, the shades were “gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, cut from the gardens of Royal Residences.” 

Apart from passing away in Balmoral, the British Royal Family also made a very emotional decision to move Prince Phillip’s remains beside Elizabeth’s. 

Prince Philip truly rose to the challenge and was not only a great husband to Elizabeth but a stellar royal companion who saw his main role as assisting her. The Queen commented on his support in her Diamond Jubilee speech in 2012, where she recognized that while he was "well-known for declining compliments of any kind," he had been a "constant strength and guide" to her. 

Since Prince Philip was not a monarch, he wasn't given a state funeral but a royal ceremonial one instead. Due to the pandemic restrictions, the funeral was very small — only 30 people were allowed to attend. Many royal family members were a part of the funeral, including Prince Harry. 

At the time, Express reported that the royal family arranged for the funeral to be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where Philip's coffin remained until the late queen died, after which the Duke of Edinburgh was interred and buried alongside his wife of 73 years. After Elizabeth passed on Sept. 8, 2022, official arrangements were executed to ensure that the couple were buried together.

The national period of mourning was first finished before burial was complete. After the mourning period, Queen Elizabeth's remains were buried at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, the resting place of her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret. Philip was interred to join Elizabeth at the memorial chapel. 

Loyal fans of Phillip and Elizabeth have viewed the royal family's decision to bury them together as a grand, poignant gesture and a symbol of love that has held the kingdoms together for the entire duration of the queen's reign. 

What is your fondest memory of the late Queen Elizabeth? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Royal Family fans out there!