Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II (21 April 1926 - 8 September 2022) reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death, a reign of 70 years and 214 days that was the longest of any British monarch and the second-longest of any sovereign in history; she was crowned on 2 June 1953. She served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War and married Prince Philip in November 1947, with whom she had four children. Over her reign she was sovereign of 32 states at various points, 15 of them still her realms at her death, witnessed the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean, and presided over the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities in 1973, celebrating Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum jubilees. Described in her own lead as the most widely travelled head of state, she met five popes and fourteen United States presidents, and was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.