Her Majesty The Queen. Photo: BBC

Given the sad and devastating news that came from Buckinham Castle yesterday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s passing at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, much of Planet Earth was fixated much of the day on the extensive coverage from the UK from the BBC, ITV and a host of other media outlets. This announcement came from BBC News.

One thing that struck me personally was the Queen’s sense of humor, something that most Americans probably weren’t aware of given the fact we didn’t have the daily look into her life as, perhaps, most British resident were privy to. One couldn’t help but notice that ever-present twinkle in her eye which was unmistakable….

This year marked the queen’s platinum jubilee, celebrating 70 years (25,000+ days!) on the throne. To understand the sheer magnitude of her reign, PBS has compiled a timeline of key milestones from the life of Queen Elizabeth. The longest-serving British monarch in history, Elizabeth was 25 years old when she assumed the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI.

The list of Prime Ministers numbered 15 serving in office during those 70 years ranging from Winston Churchill to the earlier in the week beginning of Liz Truss taking over from Boris Johnson. Ranging from Presidents Harry S. Truman to Joe Biden, fourteen U.S. Presidents were elected during her reign with Lyndon B. Johnson the only president that the Queen did not meet in person, but she did visit his presidential library and museum during a trip to Austin in May 1991.

PBS Newshour remembers Queen Elizabeth II

Another remembrance that I will never forget is looking forward to the annual Christmas message from Her Majesty.

Following the tradition that began in 1932 by her father, King George V, Her Majesty The Queen broadcast her inaugural Christmas message live on the radio from her study at Sandringham, Norfolk in 1952. The Queen began: “Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of the world. Today I am doing this to you, who are now my people.”

From 1952-56, the annual Christmas Day message was broadcast on BBC radio before her first television gig in 1957.

In an attempt to overcome nerves and a stinging editorial written by Lord Altrincham in The National and English Review, in which he had cruelly attacked her public speaking, Her Majesty looked upon this as a way to conquer her anxiety about the new medium, all in the interest of showing a more human side to her character.

Thankfully, this “new medium” of television, as The Queen put it some six decades ago in 1957, took hold, thus allowing for The Queen’s Happy Christmas message to be seen and not just heard each year on Christmas Day. This first televised Christmas broadcast by The Queen was also broadcast live from Sandringham House in Norfolk in 1957. I loved her calling television a landmark as it allowed “so many of you to see me.”

On 8 September, 2022, you are now being reunited with your loving husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, who passed on 9 April 2021. Rest in Peace.