The Queen visits Ireland, becoming the first British monarch to do so since its independence in 1921. She expresses sympathy to those who suffered during hundreds of years of conflict between the two neighbours. 6 Feb 2012 Her dignity, integrity and sense of duty led her to become one of the most highly respected and loved figures across the globe. The UK and the member states of the Commonwealth mourn her loss. Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and again in 1937. [41] They were second cousins once removed through King ChristianIX of Denmark and third cousins through Queen Victoria. After meeting for the third time at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth—though only 13 years old—said she fell in love with Philip, who was 18, and they began to exchange letters. [42] She was 21 when their engagement was officially announced on 9July 1947. [43] World leaders have been paying tribute to The Queen. US President Joe Biden said: “In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride”. Event News", The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons, archived from the original on 16 November 2018 , retrieved 28 April 2016

Royal Family tree and line of succession", BBC News, 4 September 2017, archived from the original on 11 March 2021 , retrieved 13 May 2022 Berry, Ciara (6 July 2010), "A speech by the Queen to the United Nations General Assembly", The Royal Family, Royal Household, archived from the original on 14 November 2018 , retrieved 18 April 2016 Elliot, Caroline, ed. (1991), The BBC Book of Royal Memories: 1947–1990, BBC Books, ISBN 978-0-5633-6008-7 Princess Margaret: Marriage and family", Royal Household, archived from the original on 6 November 2011 , retrieved 8 September 2011Over the course of her long reign, she prided herself on being a hard-working servant to her people. Even as a young princess, she said in a speech: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”

Elizabeth was present at the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on 29March, [242] but was unable to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service that month [243] or the Royal Maundy service in April, due to "episodic mobility problems". [244] She missed the State Opening of Parliament in May for the first time in 59 years. (She did not attend the 1959 and 1963 state openings as she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, respectively.) [245] In her absence, Parliament was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge as counsellors of state. [246] Bush, Karen (2007), Everything Dogs Expect You to Know, London: New Holland, ISBN 978-1-8453-7954-4 Smith, Matthew (17 May 2018), "Almost a third of the country has seen or met the Queen in real life", YouGov, archived from the original on 18 April 2021 , retrieved 11 August 2023

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Prince Harry, Meghan and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, show their newborn son Archie to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, 8 May Photograph: Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal/AFP/Getty 6 May 2019

Bond 2006, p.134; Brandreth 2004, p.358; Lacey 2002, pp.6–7; Pimlott 2001, p.616; Roberts 2000, p.98; Shawcross 2002, p.8 In a hotly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex claims members of the royal family had openly expressed concerns about how dark her son Archie’s skin would be and says they had tried to deny him a royal title. Both Meghan and PrinceHoey, Brian (2022), Her Majesty Queen ElizabethII: Platinum Jubilee Celebration: 70 Years: 1952–2022, Rizzoli, ISBN 978-1-8416-5939-8 A History of Royal Burials and Funerals", Westminster Abbey, archived from the original on 12 September 2022 , retrieved 11 September 2022

Murphy, Victoria (15 October 2020), "Queen Elizabeth Is Joined by Prince William for Her First Public Outing in Seven Months", Town & Country, archived from the original on 24 June 2021 , retrieved 5 July 2021 Bedell Smith, Sally (2017), Elizabeth the Queen: The Woman Behind the Throne, Penguin Books, ISBN 978-1-4059-3216-5Queen to visit Southwark on Millennium Eve", London SE1, December 1999, archived from the original on 13 February 2022 , retrieved 13 February 2022 ; Emeritus Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said: "I had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty The Queen on several occasions. When she opened buildings and attended major events in Cambridge, she always engaged warmly with our staff and students as well as showing a continued interest in the University.