A Queen For The Decades

You can't deny that Queen Elizabeth II was a royal figure the whole world was familiar with. Her presence was undeniable, and within her seven-decade reign, she witnessed so many historic events. Whether good or bad, let's take a look at 20 of the most significant moments in history that happened during her time.

Associated Press on Wikimedia Commons

1. Became The Longest Living Monarch

Reigning over the nation for nearly 71 years, Queen Elizabeth II is by far one of the longest-living monarchs to ever hold the throne. To put that into perspective, she saw 15 prime ministers and 14 American presidents throughout her life! At the old age of 96, she was finally able to rest. 

Photograph taken by Julian Calder for Governor-General of New Zealand on Wikimedia

2. The Moon Landing

Taking place in 1969, this Queen was even around for the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. She got to witness this incredible event firsthand as Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon - something that was beyond everyone's wildest dreams.

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3. Her Coronation Was The First To Be Broadcast Live

Though this massive event was just a one day celebration, it supposedly took 14 months to plan and prepare for. That shows you the extent of how important it was! Held on June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II officially took the throne and it was all broadcast live for the country to see. It was the very first time this had ever been done.

Donald McKague on Wikimedia

4. The First Sovereign To Visit Germany Over Half A Century Later

Following the aftermath of World War II, Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Germany in 1965 was a lot more significant than you might think. Staying for 10 days, it was the first time in over 50 years that a British Monarch had come. It was incredibly powerful during a time when everyone was recovering from the post-war. 

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5. The Aberfan Mining Disaster

On October 21, 1966, a true tragedy occurred in Aberfan, Wales. After heavy rain, one of the tips (accumulated waste material) avalanched down onto a completely unaware town. This devastating landslide took out numerous buildings, most notably a children's school which resulted in hundreds of lives lost including 104 children. Eight days after the disaster, Queen Elizabeth II finally came to pay her respects, something she was heavily criticized for.

John Thorn on Wikimedia

6. The First To Visit Mainland China

Did you know Queen Elizabeth II was the first British Monarch to ever visit the Chinese mainland? This historic day took place on October 15, 1986 and she visited plenty of national landmarks including the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China. 

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7. The Marriage Between Prince Charles and Princess Diana

Although no one knew what their future would become, Prince Charles and Princess Dianas' wedding was a huge event that the nation celebrated. Everyone adored Diana and couldn't wait for her to join the Royal Family. We're talking ceremonies held all along the streets and every household being tuned in to the live recording!

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8. Princess Diana's Passing

Sadly, Princess Diana's life was short lived. In a fatal car crash that everyone around the world would come to know, she passed away on August 31, 1997. It was an event that shook the country, even leading to Queen Elizabeth II making an official statement. 

John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA (Archived link) on Wikimedia

9. Margaret Thatcher Became The First Female Prime Minister

During her very long life, Queen Elizabeth II saw some very important changes made in the government. For one, Margaret Thatcher was voted in, becoming the first female prime minister. To make her an even more notable figure, she served for a whopping three consecutive terms!

Marion S. Trikosko on Wikimedia

10. The Creation of The Internet

The official birthday for the internet is said to be on January 1, 1983. Yes, it's a lot more recent than you thought it'd be! And while that's a cool fact and all, it's even more impressive thinking about how Queen Elizabeth II was here for it all. Keep in mind, she's been around since the first televised coronation to the creation of the internet!

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11. The Fall of The Berlin Wall

Standing for more than 28 years, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked a significant moment in history. After so many years of conflict and unnecessary deaths, this was incredibly important because it was the first sign East and West Germany could be reunified and connected once more. 

Noir on Wikimedia

12. The Fall of Saigon

Marking the end of the ruthless Vietnam War, on April 30, 1975, countries around the world could finally rest. This war lasted for nearly 20 years, with countless of lives lost, meaning this ending was such a critical historical event that can't be forgotten. What's even crazier is realizing Queen Elizabeth II lived through all of that - the start and the finish. 

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13. The Chernobyl Disaster

Known as the deadliest nuclear disaster to happen in history, the Chernobyl accident can not be so easily forgotten. With the explosion of a faulty reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, it led to 30 workers passing and an insane amount of radiation being spread. The area has since been closed off due to how unsafe it is. 

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14. The Golden Jubilee

Marking Queen Elizabeth's 50 year anniversary of running the throne, the Golden Jubilee was held in her honor. This celebratory day however was filled with much sadness as well. Because around this same time, the Queen unfortunately had to say farewell to both her beloved sister, Princess Margaret, and her mother within a matter of a few weeks. 

Bill Ingalls on Wikimedia

15. The First To Visit The Republic of Ireland in 100 Years

Not too long ago, in 2011, Queen Elizabeth II was the first to visit the Republic of Ireland in about 100 years. That was because a century ago, the country was fighting its way to gain independence. No hard feelings though, as the queen wore green during her four day visit which was a very symbolic color. 

rolandmey on Pixabay

16.  The Platinum Jubilee

Recognizing the Queen's 70 years of remarkable service, the Platinum Jubilee was held in 2022 to honor her. Sadly, this was the same year that she passed, making this celebratory day even more meaningful. It was incredible thinking about how long she served her country. 

The White House from Washington, DC on Wikimedia

17. Brexit

All everyone in Europe could talk about for the longest time, Brexit was the removal of the UK from the European Union. This marked a massive change in history, with the entire decision still being seen as quite controversial. 

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18. Prince Philip's Passing

On April 9, 2021, Prince Philip passed away at the old age of 99. He lived an incredibly long and fulfilling life, doing great work in service to the Crown. Having been married to Queen Elizabeth II for a whopping 74 years, it was certainly a heartbreaking moment in history for her. 

Allan Warren on Wikimedia

19. Covid-19

The pandemic no one expected to face, Covid-19 shook the entire world. It was completely unexpected and we were ill-equipped to face it. Taking countless number of lives and changing the way we view sickness, this disease made a permanent mark on history as we know it. 

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20. The Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Debacle

Turning the Royal family upside down, the addition of Meghan Markle made them front page news in pop culture. The decision for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to step down from their royal positions shocked the world - and likely the Queen too.

Mark Jones on Wikimedia