Last night, official news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II spread across the internet. Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom. She became queen upon the death of her father, King George VI in 1952. At the time of her death, she had reigned for 70 years. As of today, her eldest son Charles is now King Charles III and his wife Camilla is now the Queen consort. World leaders and public figures from across the globe are releasing statements of condolence and mourning.
Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered for her love of horses and corgis, her annual Christmas speeches to the British public, her loving marriage to her husband Prince Philip and their family legacy, her role in the transition from a British Empire to a Commonwealth, and her steadfast public neutrality in a volatile world. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of monarchist supporters, and her image will continue to serve as a muse for the meme creators who found her regular public photos to be a source of artistic inspiration.
