Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II has seen it all. From her unique vantage point as a figure of great authority, but with no real political power, she has borne witness to every significant historical event that has shaped, not only the United Kingdom, but the entire world.
Her reign has seen great change: from the Cold War to the Falklands conflict and the War on Terror; from the financial boom of the 1980s to the devastating economic busts of the 1990s and the recent credit crunch; from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair to David Cameron. In a rapidly changing world, Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant and steadfast presence, guiding her subjects through stormy waters in her own inimitably dignified way.
Now, as she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee – the sixtieth anniversary of her ascension to a position that she was never expected to occupy – she can look back on a life well lived and a job well done.