Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, September 8, at the age of 96 at her Balmoral castle in Scotland, the British royal family announced in a press release.
Born on April 21, 1926, in London, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was crowned queen at the age of 25, on the death of her father George VI.
The wife of Philip Mountbatten, Prince of Greece and Denmark with whom she had four children (Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Duke of York Andrew and Earl of Wessex Edward), has seen no less than fifteen British prime ministers, including Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson.
The first British sovereign to dare to travel to China
During 70 years of reign, Elizabeth took to heart her commitments for the United Kingdom, in her country, as on the international scene.
The list of countries visited by the sovereign is long: Libya, Thailand, Chile, Nepal, Botswana, India... But don't think it was always a cakewalk.
In 1961, when Ghana was experiencing major political tensions, she continued to move despite the risks to her security.
Elizabeth II assumes all her choice of destinations, even if it means omitting some or daring others.
In 1986, she even became the first Briton from the royal family to allow herself a trip to China.
During her lifetime, the Queen will thus have visited nearly 120 countries (on average two per year), with a record of 12 nations visited in 6 months during her trip to the Commonwealth States the year following her coronation.
Her record is worthy of the greatest globetrotters: Elizabeth II is said to have completed the equivalent of 42 trips around the world.