It was a life lived in service. Overnight we lost Queen Elizabeth II, our longest serving Monarch. A cause of death hasn’t been revealed, but the Royal Family report that she died peacefully at her home in Balmoral at the age of 96.

Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, at 25 years of age she became queen regnant of seven Commonwealth countries, including Australia. Queen Elizabeth II reigned for seven decades. She will be succeeded by her 73-year-old son Charles who will take the name King Charles III. Just as his mother served as Queen for longer than any other Monarch, Charles was the oldest and the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II was reluctant to give interviews and was guarded in her views. It was rare that she ever offered her thoughts on the politics of the day. We do know that throughout her life she took seriously the oath she took at her coronation and that her strong religious beliefs guided her throughout life. In terms of personal interests, she was a keen equestrian enthusiast and dog lover. She is very well known to have treasured her corgi dogs.

In the coming days, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly to the UK alongside the Governor General to meet King Charles III.

“When I reflect on my own memories — and she was my Queen my entire life — I think of Her Majesty's dignity and her compassion, her dedication and her work ethic, and her selfless and unwavering commitment to those of whom she served — to us.

“With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end." 

"There is comfort to be found in Her Majesty's own words: Grief is the price we pay for love," Prime Minister Albanese said.

The Queen was never one to shirk her responsibilities to the Commonwealth. In 2006, her cousin The Hon Margaret Rhodes, a great friend and confidant of the Queen, commented that “It's not like a normal job, it's a job for life." Rhodes followed up by explaining that the vows made on Coronation Day were "so deep and so special" to the Queen.

"She wouldn't consider not continuing to fulfill those vows until she dies," said Rhodes.

Much of our perception of the modern Royal Family is framed through the media, particularly scandals (real and manufactured) reported on through the tabloid press. It is a testament to the strength of character that the Queen exhibited that she was never the focus of scandal throughout her life. Instead, she stood as a tower of strength through the challenges that faced not only her own family, but also the many challenges faced by Britain and the Commonwealth throughout the time of her reign.

National Seniors Australia Chief Advocate Ian Henschke has offered his own thoughts on the loss of the Queen:

"Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne on 6 February 1952. So, like most other Australians I have only known her as the monarch.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of her death. She devoted her life to public service with dignity, humility, compassion, and grace.

"Her simulated arrival by parachute at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, and private tea party with Paddington Bear during her recent Jubilee also showed us the sense of humour those that knew her intimately said always shone through.

"Often in media interviews I would point to her as a wonderful example of a person working and contributing in older age.

"My fondest memory is of her with Sir David Attenborough, another extraordinary role model as a senior, when they were both 91 walking through a royal park with the Queen talking fondly about the Queen's Canopy Project. 

Queen Elizabeth also gave us hope most recently during the darkest days of COVID-19 when she said optimistically that "we will meet again." 

On behalf of National Seniors, I extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to her family and thank them for her extraordinary life of service. 

The life of Queen Elizabeth II was one marked by incredible technological change.

Her coronation was the first to be broadcast on television. Broadcast live on 2 June 1953, it helped make the then-nascent technology a mainstream medium. Over 20 million people viewed the coronation, which was the first time a TV audience outnumbered those listening on radio. 

Just a few years later in 1957, she moved the needle on TV once more with her first ever Christmas message delivered by the medium. She understood the power of television and how it would help her better connect with her subjects across the Commonwealth. At the time she remarked: “I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct.”

As technology rapidly re-shaped the world in ways beyond broadcast media, Queen Elizabeth II was always there to embrace it. On 26 March 1976 she sent her first email, using the military network ARPANET. In 1997 her Christmas message was delivered via Internet for the first time and just over a decade later in 2008 it began also being published annually to YouTube. 

In 2014 she posted to Twitter for the first time. In 2019, her first Instagram post.