She ascended the throne in 1952 at the age of 26 and ruled until her death on September 8. He was 96 years old. In the intervening years, he has presided over wars, natural disasters, revolutions, the moon landing, the arrival of television, cell phones and the internet, and many successions of world leaders. As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted in a statement issued on September 8, she is the 12th Canadian prime minister to serve during her reign. “Again, Her Majesty marked Canada’s modern history,” Trudeau said in the statement. “Over 70 years and 23 Royal Tours, Queen Elizabeth II has seen this country from coast to coast to coast and has been there for our big, historic milestones.” CTVNews.ca takes a look at some notable statements the Queen has made over the years. During her 21st birthday on 21 April 1947, while still a princess, she said: “I declare before all of you that my entire life, whether long or short, will be dedicated to your service and to the service of the Imperial family, to which we all belong.” In a speech on her coronation day, June 2, 1953, she said: “The ceremonies you saw today are ancient, and some of their origins are shrouded in the mists of the past. But their spirit and their meaning shine through the ages, never, perhaps, more brightly than now. I have earnestly pledged myself to your service, as many of you have pledged yourself to mine. Throughout my life and with all my heart I will try to be worthy of your trust.” During her Christmas broadcast on 25 December 1963, the Queen said: “Humanity can only progress if we all truly aspire to what is good and worthy. We know that the reward is peace on Earth, goodwill toward men, but we cannot win it without determination and concerted effort.” During her Christmas broadcast on 25 December 1989, the Queen said: “You’ve all seen pictures of Earth taken from space. Unlike all the other planets in the solar system, Earth shimmers green and blue in the sunlight and seems a very pleasant place to live. These images should remind us that the future of all life on Earth depends on how we treat each other and how we treat the plants and animals that share our world with us.” On 24 November 1992, the Queen gave a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession. In the speech, he referred to the recent infighting within the royal family as part of an “annus horribilis”, which is a Latin phrase meaning “horrible year”. That year, three of her children’s marriages ended, including that of the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. Additionally, a major fire broke out at Windsor Castle. Several notable quotes emerged from this speech, including: “1992 is not a year I will look back on with undiminished pleasure.” “Criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution—city, Monarchy, whatever—should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, to say nothing of those who do not.” “We are all part of the same fabric of our national society and this control, from one part of the other, can be just as effective if done with a touch of courtesy, good humor and understanding.” On 5 September 1997, several days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Queen addressed the nation in which she said: “He was an extraordinary and gifted man. In good times and bad, she never lost her ability to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her — for her energy and her commitment to others, and especially her devotion to her two boys.” During her Christmas broadcast on 25 December 1998, the Queen said: “As a daughter, mother and grandmother, I often find myself seeking advice or being asked for advice in all three capacities. No age group has a monopoly on wisdom, and indeed I believe that young people can sometimes be wiser than us. But the older I get, the more I realize the difficulties young people have to face as they learn to live in the modern world.” In the days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, he said: “Sadness is the price we pay for love.” During her Christmas broadcast on 25 December 2008, the Queen said: “When life seems hard, the brave don’t lie down and accept defeat. On the contrary, they are increasingly determined to fight for a better future.” In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on July 6, 2010, she said: “I hope that when judged by future generations … our honesty, our willingness to take leadership and our determination to do the right thing will stand the test of time.” During her Christmas show on December 23, 2019, she said: “As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. However, this year marked the fiftieth anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission. As those historic photos were beamed down to Earth, millions of us sat glued to our television screens as we watched Neil Armstrong take one small step for man and one giant leap for humanity and indeed for woman. It’s a reminder to all of us that giant leaps often start with small steps.” On her UK and Commonwealth show on 5 April 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said: “We should take solace that while we may still have more to endure… better days will return. We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will be reunited.” The Queen gave one of her last public speeches, her annual Christmas broadcast, on 25 December 2021. In it, she reflected on her late husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died on 9 April 2021, saying: “In the months since my beloved Philip’s death, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work – from across the country, the Commonwealth and the world. His sense of service, his intellectual curiosity and his ability to wring fun out of any situation – were all irresistible. That scandalous, amorous glow was as bright at the end as when I first laid eyes on him.’
