Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, died at the age of 96 on September 8. After taking the throne in 1952, she vowed to modernize the monarchy and serve the public. Although the monarchy has been the subject of a lot of criticism for its racist and colonial past, Queen Elizabeth sought to reinvent the monarchy’s relationship with the public by donating to hundreds of charities and holding countless public gatherings. Charles III, Queen Elizabeth’s son, will take over as King following the death of his mother.

This past summer, the Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. The event drew celebrities from around the world to celebrate the Queen’s 70th year in power. The Queen’s death was shocking to some, but aides reported that she had been slowing down over the past year. The official cause of death was declared “old age”. The Queen passed away peacefully on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, surrounded by her close family.

The Queen’s funeral was held at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19. She was buried in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I are buried. The United Kingdom is now entering a new era as it transitions to a new monarch. At 73 years old, King Charles III has become the oldest person to become the British monarch.