Queen Elizabeth, Canada’s head of state and the longest-reigning British monarch, has died. She was 96.
She died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Buckingham Palace said in a short statement.
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” the palace said, in reference to the Queen’s son Charles, who automatically became king upon her death, and his wife, Camilla.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.<br><br>The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. <a href=”https://t.co/VfxpXro22W”>pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W</a>
In a separate statement, King Charles called his mother’s death “a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.”
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Charles’ estate, Clarence House, confirmed his title was now King Charles III.
Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, at the relatively tender age of 25, and presided over the country and the Commonwealth, including Canada, for seven decades. Those 70 years as monarch were recognized during this year’s Platinum Jubilee events, which reached their height in London in early June.
In her time as monarch, Elizabeth bore witness to profound changes at home and abroad, including the decline of the British Empire and decolonization of many African and Caribbean countries, along with the end of hostilities with Irish republicans.
As one of the most famous women in the world, she was also under great public scrutiny during some of the most painful moments of her life, including the death of her father, King George VI, the marriage breakups of three of her four children and the death of her former daughter-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Personnel place a sign announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth on a fence outside the Buckingham Palace, after Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, died aged 96, according to Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain September 8, 2022. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)
But Elizabeth always had a keen sense of her role.
“I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice,” she said during her first televised Christmas address in 1957. “But I can do something else: I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”
That sense of duty was central to her life, even before she ascended the throne. In a speech broadcast from Cape Town, South Africa, on her 21st birthday in 1947, she made that clear.
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” she said.
Queen Elizabeth dead at 96
3 hours ago
Duration 8:29
Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, has died. The CBC’s Margaret Evans has a look at her life and legacy.
The path to the throne
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on April 21, 1926, the first child to Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Duke and Duchess of York. At the time of her birth, Elizabeth stood third in line of succession to the throne and was not expected to become monarch.
But that changed when her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 in order to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth’s father became King George VI, making Elizabeth the presumptive heir.
It was around this time that Elizabeth met her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.
Their wedding at London’s Westminster Abbey in 1947 was a grand event that helped lift the spirits of the British public at a time when it was still reeling from the destruction of the Second World War and the rationing that followed the end of the conflict.
Queen Elizabeth’s marriage to Prince Philip:
Prince Philip married the Queen in 1947
2 years ago
Duration 0:32
A young Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey in London on Nov. 20, 1947.
The couple’s first child, Prince Charles, was born in 1948 and the second, Princess Anne, arrived two years later. (Another two children, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, were born in 1960 and 1964, and the family has now grown to include eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.)
King George VI died in 1952, at which point Elizabeth became Queen as well as head of the Church of England and the Commonwealth.
Although her grandmother, Queen Mary, died in February 1953, Elizabeth’s coronation went ahead that June. It was a lavish spectacle, and in a significant first, was televised worldwide to an audience estimated at 277 million.
Do you have a personal connection, story or memory to share about Queen Elizabeth II? Or a question about what happens next? Send an email to ask@cbc.ca
The role of a queen
Because Britain has a constitutional monarchy, the King or Queen is head of state but has no ability to make or pass legislation.
Throughout her reign, Elizabeth had a weekly audience with the British prime minister. While the substance of these discussions remains confidential, it is thought that it was an opportunity for the sitting prime minister to solicit her advice.
Elizabeth refused to be drawn into policy debates in public, but over the years, the British media sometimes alleged differences of opinion between her and the prime minister of the day.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip wave goodbye as they leave Canada from Pearson International Airport in Toronto on July 6, 2010. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
For example, there were reports that Elizabeth was concerned about the anti-strike measures and reduction of social programs under Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister from 1979 until 1990.
As much as Queen Elizabeth kept her distance from politics, there were times she let her views be known — or appeared to. For example, she favoured sanctions against South Africa in the 1980s, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney has said.
And in the days leading to the Scottish referendum in 2014, there was much attention focused on her saying that she hoped people would think “very carefully about the future.” At the time, Buckingham Palace said the Queen “maintains her constitutional impartiality. As the Queen has always said, this is a matter for the people of Scotland.”
While Elizabeth remained largely apolitical, countless trips abroad made her something of a royal diplomat. In addition to more than 20 visits to Canada, Elizabeth spoke to the United Nations General Assembly, the U.S. Congress and met several popes.
Queen Elizabeth’s many visits to Canada:
The Queen in Canada
3 months ago
Duration 3:25
Queen Elizabeth has visited Canada 22 times, beginning her royal tours as a princess in 1951, where she met Indigenous people in Alberta.
Arguably her most significant diplomatic mission was closer to home. In 2012, she visited Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she shook the hand of Martin McGuinness, a one-time commander with the Irish Republican Army and at the time the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland.
The meeting, although brief, was seen by many as a key moment of reconciliation between Britain and Irish republicans.
Elizabeth has “been astonishingly effective as a diplomat and as a statesperson,” Ninian Mellamphy, a professor emeritus at Western University in London, Ont., and a longtime royal watcher, said at the time.
Largely inscrutable
Renowned as much for her composure as the colourful clothing she wore to make sure she could be seen in a crowd, Elizabeth rarely showed her true emotions in public. As a result, she was seen by many as a symbol of British resilience.
Even so, she had her dark years, particularly 1992, which she called her own “annus horribilis.” That year, among other events, the marriages of three of her four children crumbled, a tell-all book about Diana was published and a fire devastated part of Windsor Castle, a royal residence she particularly favoured.
Diana divorced Prince Charles in 1996, and a year later, she died after a car crash in Paris. Elizabeth was heavily criticized for not responding publicly immediately following Diana’s death, but days later she delivered a heartfelt speech on TV in which she expressed admiration for her former daughter-in-law.
As recognizable and high-profile as Elizabeth was, however, she remained in many ways an elusive personality. She was known for her sense of humour and dry wit, but didn’t do interviews and her personal views never got a public airing.
Certain interests seemed apparent — whether it was her love of horses or devotion to the corgis that would run up airplane steps with her.
There was also the sense she was a frugal Queen who ran a tight ship, one who reportedly kept her cereal in Tupperware containers and made sure lights were turned off in the regal palaces she called home.
Queen Elizabeth, left, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Louis are seen at Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 05. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
In her later years, she became an object of fascination for screenwriters and playwrights, most notably Peter Morgan, who tried to capture the inner life of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
Celebrated actor Helen Mirren won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Elizabeth in the 2006 film The Queen, and also starred in the stage play The Audience, about her weekly meetings with the prime minister.
Netflix is also producing The Crown, a series created by Morgan that explores her reign.
Despite public debates about the necessity and future of the monarchy, Elizabeth remained a highly popular figure among Britons until her death.
In 2020, she was praised for offering a sense of calm strength and reassurance as the coronavirus pandemic continued. Her strong sense of duty was on display particularly as she urged resilience early in the pandemic through a rare televised address. She also found herself carrying out her role in new ways as she took part in virtual events.
Philip, who was the longest-serving consort to a monarch, died on April 9, 2021. At Philip’s funeral on April 17, 2021, Elizabeth led a small group of family members as pandemic restrictions at the time meant the funeral service was limited to 30 people. She sat alone, wearing a mask, at the front of St. George’s Chapel before his casket was lowered into the royal vault.
Queen Elizabeth sits alone in St. George’s Chapel during the funeral of her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9, 2021, at the age of 99. (Jonathan Brady/The Associated Press)
Health concerns arose after she was in hospital overnight for what were described as “preliminary investigations” in October 2021. Following advice from doctors to rest for at least two weeks, she continued to undertake light duties from her home at Windsor Castle.
She also carried out several engagements virtually, but missed high-profile public events such as Remembrance Sunday.
In early February 2022, Elizabeth marked 70 years on the throne, an unprecedented milestone for a British monarch and the official beginning of her Platinum Jubilee.
Later that month, Buckingham Palace announced she had tested positive for COVID-19. She recovered and continued to carry out virtual engagements, along with a few in-person meetings, including with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Windsor Castle.
While Platinum Jubilee events continued largely without her public presence, she did appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the beginning and end of the celebrations in early June.
Trooping the Colour military parade in London marks the start of four days of events celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne.
“While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family,” she said in a message as the Jubilee events concluded.
“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope the renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.”
VANCOUVER – Contract negotiations resume today in Vancouver in a labour dispute that has paralyzed container cargo shipping at British Columbia’s ports since Monday.
The BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 are scheduled to meet for the next three days in mediated talks to try to break a deadlock in negotiations.
The union, which represents more than 700 longshore supervisors at ports, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo, has been without a contract since March last year.
The latest talks come after employers locked out workers in response to what it said was “strike activity” by union members.
The start of the lockout was then followed by several days of no engagement between the two parties, prompting federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to speak with leaders on both sides, asking them to restart talks.
MacKinnon had said that the talks were “progressing at an insufficient pace, indicating a concerning absence of urgency from the parties involved” — a sentiment echoed by several business groups across Canada.
In a joint letter, more than 100 organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada and associations representing industries from automotive and fertilizer to retail and mining, urged the government to do whatever it takes to end the work stoppage.
“While we acknowledge efforts to continue with mediation, parties have not been able to come to a negotiated agreement,” the letter says. “So, the federal government must take decisive action, using every tool at its disposal to resolve this dispute and limit the damage caused by this disruption.
“We simply cannot afford to once again put Canadian businesses at risk, which in turn puts Canadian livelihoods at risk.”
In the meantime, the union says it has filed a complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board against the employers, alleging the association threatened to pull existing conditions out of the last contract in direct contact with its members.
“The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically elected leadership and bargaining committee — despite the fact that the BCMEA knows full well we received a 96 per cent mandate to take job action if needed,” union president Frank Morena said in a statement.
The employers have responded by calling the complaint “another meritless claim,” adding the final offer to the union that includes a 19.2 per cent wage increase over a four-year term remains on the table.
“The final offer has been on the table for over a week and represents a fair and balanced proposal for employees, and if accepted would end this dispute,” the employers’ statement says. “The offer does not require any concessions from the union.”
The union says the offer does not address the key issue of staffing requirement at the terminals as the port introduces more automation to cargo loading and unloading, which could potentially require fewer workers to operate than older systems.
The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada and has seen a number of labour disruptions, including two instances involving the rail and grain storage sectors earlier this year.
A 13-day strike by another group of workers at the port last year resulted in the disruption of a significant amount of shipping and trade.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
The Royal Canadian Legion says a new partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon is helping boost its veterans’ fund, and will hopefully expand its donor base in the digital world.
Since the Oct. 25 launch of its Amazon.ca storefront, the legion says it has received nearly 10,000 orders for poppies.
Online shoppers can order lapel poppies on Amazon in exchange for donations or buy items such as “We Remember” lawn signs, Remembrance Day pins and other accessories, with all proceeds going to the legion’s Poppy Trust Fund for Canadian veterans and their families.
Nujma Bond, the legion’s national spokesperson, said the organization sees this move as keeping up with modern purchasing habits.
“As the world around us evolves we have been looking at different ways to distribute poppies and to make it easier for people to access them,” she said in an interview.
“This is definitely a way to reach a wider number of Canadians of all ages. And certainly younger Canadians are much more active on the web, on social media in general, so we’re also engaging in that way.”
Al Plume, a member of a legion branch in Trenton, Ont., said the online store can also help with outreach to veterans who are far from home.
“For veterans that are overseas and are away, (or) can’t get to a store they can order them online, it’s Amazon.” Plume said.
Plume spent 35 years in the military with the Royal Engineers, and retired eight years ago. He said making sure veterans are looked after is his passion.
“I’ve seen the struggles that our veterans have had with Veterans Affairs … and that’s why I got involved, with making sure that the people get to them and help the veterans with their paperwork.”
But the message about the Amazon storefront didn’t appear to reach all of the legion’s locations, with volunteers at Branch 179 on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive saying they hadn’t heard about the online push.
Holly Paddon, the branch’s poppy campaign co-ordinator and bartender, said the Amazon partnership never came up in meetings with other legion volunteers and officials.
“I work at the legion, I work with the Vancouver poppy office and I go to the meetings for the Vancouver poppy campaign — which includes all the legions in Vancouver — and not once has this been mentioned,” she said.
Paddon said the initiative is a great idea, but she would like to have known more about it.
The legion also sells a larger collection of items at poppystore.ca.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
