As news about Queen Elizabeth II circulates around the world, the United Kingdom mourns the loss of their longest reigning monarch. Queen Elizabeth II, at age 96, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
Born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on May 29, 1926, Elizabeth married her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg, while still a princess on November 20, 1947.
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Elizabeth became Queen after her father, King George VI, died of lung cancer in 1952. Her coronation took place the following year and at age 25, a young Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II reigned for more than 70 years, making her the longest-sitting monarch in British history.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
Queen Elizabeth II is remembered for honoring her promise of devotion to the crown and to the people of England, which she made during a speech 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."
'I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.'
On her twenty-first birthday, in a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/0URU2tEPj8— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 9, 2020
But perhaps even more impressive than the Queen's devotion to the land she ruled was her devotion to her Lord and Savior.
As the head of the Church of England, faith played an integral role in Queen Elizabeth II's role and life.
"The Queen is 'deeply religious'," noted Royal Family historian Robert Lacey and, "Her Christian faith is fundamental to her, in an old-time evangelical way."
In fact, she developed a special friendship with the great Evangelical Preacher Billy Graham.
"Her official position has prevented her from openly endorsing our Crusade meetings." Billy wrote in his autobiography Just As I Am. "But by welcoming us and having me preach on several occasions to the royal family at Windsor and Sandringham, she has gone out of her way to be quietly supportive of our mission."
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And the Queen herself spoke out about her relationship with Jesus and how it shaped her life.
“For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life,” she said in her Christmas Broadcast in 2000. “I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”
This reliance on her faith undoubtedly allowed her Majesty to weather many storms over her 70-year reign.
News about the declining health of Queen Elizabeth II first broke the morning of September 8, 2022. Doctors showed up at Balmoral Castle, the Queen's estate in the Scottish Highlands. And after evaluating her condition, they voiced concerns over her health.
At that time, the Palace released a statement saying, “Following further evaluation this morning, the queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended that she remain under medical supervision."
Later that same day, surrounded by her family, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. And though many mourn this loss, hope is found in the midst of grief. And this is because of the promise made by Our Lord and Savior.
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As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:11, God has planted "eternity in the human heart." Our time on earth may be limited, but our time with Christ is endless!
h/t: Christian Headlines
Feature Image Credit: Youtube/CBS Mornings
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!