Queen Elizabeth II: An Extraordinary Life of Purpose B y: Hazu k A s gh ar
PHOTO B Y B IB LIOA R C H IVE S /LIB R A RYA R C H IVE S V I A F L I C K R
P HOTO BY J U L I AN CAL D E R O N W I K I ME DIA CO M M O N S
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 THE OBSERVER
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 PAGE 14
