Scandal, Tragedy, Destiny: Inside Queen Elizabeth II’s Path to the Throne

Twelve days later, on Feb. 27, the younger queen presided over her first investiture, handing out honors to 2,500 residents and members of the army for service to the nation. She has given out lots of of hundreds of such honors through the years.

“It was all very sudden,” the queen recalled that surreal week greater than 40 years later. Within the second it was principally about “making one of the best job you possibly can. It’s a query of maturing into one thing that one’s acquired used to doing, and accepting the truth that right here you might be, and it’s your destiny, as a result of I feel continuity is essential.”

Continuity has been the secret since, as Queen Elizabeth II—with Sixteenth-century monarch Elizabeth I as her predecessor, whereas her mom, additionally Queen Elizabeth, grew to become the Queen Mom—handed her ruby jubilee (40 years), then golden (50 years), then diamond (60 years) after which her sapphire jubilee after 65 years on the throne.

And now, “We’re going to see her transferring alongside, doing her obligation,” Bedell Smith mentioned final yr of the monarch’s future. “She’s not going to be like Queen Victoria and retreat from public view. She’ll be out, and she or he’ll do no matter is required of her.”

(Initially printed Feb. 10, 2019, at 3 a.m. PT)