Queen Elizabeth II

<p><strong>‘<em>I am a great admirer of Her Majesty. This gem of a book beautifully encapsulates the life of one of history’s most iconic royals.</em>’</strong> - Barbara Bush</p><p><strong>At age 25, Elizabeth II became Britain’s fortieth monarch and vowed to dedicate her life to service and duty on behalf of her country.</strong> Upon her death, aged 96, she certainly had achieved that. She was the constitutional monarch of fifteen sovereign states, head of the fifty-six member Commonwealth of Nations, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and Head of the Armed Forces. Most notably, however, on 9 September 2015, she became the longest reigning monarch in British history and for a time was the oldest serving sovereign in the world. She consistently adapted in order to remain relevant, while devotedly upholding the age-old traditions of the monarchy.</p><p>Although there have only been six British female monarchs, it cannot be denied that some of the most enlightened times in history have occurred during periods of queenship. Elizabeth I led the country through the Golden Age and Victoria ushered in the Industrial Revolution, but it is Elizabeth II who has left the most illustrious and progressive legacy of all: a true icon of modern monarchy.</p>