On February 6, Queen Elizabeth II marked 70 years on the throne, becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history. And over a four-day weekend at the beginning of June, led by the royal family, Britons celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. The festivities included a military parade through London, an 82-gun salute, a flyover of Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force aircraft, a pop concert featuring Queen (the band), a thanksgiving church service, and a horse race.
Poor health — or “some discomfort,” as she put it — prevented the queen from attending all the events. She managed only two brief appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. If the 96-year-old monarch’s frailty is a reminder that we are in the twilight of her reign, it is also an invitation to consider her legacy.
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