The afternoon of September 8 was no different than usual, until shouts of confusion and shock disturbed the peace at The Baldwin School. Only four words could be heard ringing through the hallways: “The Queen is dead!”
From that moment on, an ordinary Thursday turned into a day that will be marked in the history books forever.
For many, Queen Elizabeth was an iconic figure who had been around for so long that her passing did not seem like a real possibility. As Claudia Kim ‘25 said, “She resembled a person who never dies.”
Having worn the crown for an incredible seventy years, Queen Elizabeth was Britain’s longest reigning monarch and one of the most prominent political figures in modern history.
Fifteen prime ministers served under her reign, she met with thirteen US presidents, and witnessed some of the most revolutionary changes in the world, including both World War II and the invention of the internet.
Queen Elizabeth was a bridge between generations, making her a beloved figure to both young and old. Sworn in as queen at the young age of twenty-five, she made an oath to put the good of the country before her personal life. In a time when few women were employed outside the home, she was a trail-blazing example of working motherhood. She made countless sacrifices, putting her title before her responsibilities as mother, sister, and wife.
As Ms. Smith, the ninth-grade history teacher, said, “She thought of herself as a public servant who just happened to wear a tiara and live in a palace.”
Even as she suffered through immense personal struggles, from the years of rumors surrounding the late Prince Phillip’s infidelity to the tremendous criticism after Princess Diana’s death, Queen Elizabeth remained faithful to her duty as the queen despite it all.
Melina Intzes ‘26 said, “People have really gotten used to her and loved her, because you can’t not love the person who has been reigning your whole life.”
The love and loyalty that many of the Queen’s subjects felt for her was made even stronger by the novel steps she took to connect with them. Ms. Smith said, “Queen Elizabeth modernized the monarchy. She really used TV and radio to make herself known to her subjects.”
Decades from now, Queen Elizabeth will be remembered as someone with a deep passion for and faith in her subjects. She devoted her entire life to being a role model for us all, and her legacy will live on, long after she is gone.