It has been almost two years since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Yet, some people are still discovering her real name and title for the first time.
On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 at Balmoral. She was laid to rest next to her husband, Prince Philip, who had passed away the previous year at the age of 99. Shortly after her death, her death certificate became public.
Now, death certificates are not something most people spend much time thinking about in their lives. They typically contain details like a person’s full name, date of birth, and occupation. However, the Queen’s death certificate was anything but ordinary, surprising many who saw it.
People were taken aback when they saw the Queen’s full legal name listed as ‘Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor’. It was a shock for many who always believed that the Queen did not have a last name. Seeing it on an official document was quite unusual.
The middle names of ‘Alexandra’ and ‘Mary’ were also news to some. While I was aware that the Queen had a last name, the middle names were a surprise to me as well.
Another intriguing detail on the certificate was the Queen’s occupation, listed simply as “Her Majesty the Queen.” People found it amusing and even joked about their own occupations on their potential death certificates.
But in all seriousness, the role of the Queen involves tremendous responsibilities. According to the Royal Family website, the Queen’s duties included tasks like reviewing and agreeing to turn bills into Acts of Parliament, maintaining a special relationship with the Prime Ministers, and meeting with them regularly. She also had the power to provide guidance while remaining politically neutral.
The certificate noted that the cause of the Queen’s death was ‘old age’. Her son, King Charles III, expressed his profound sadness over the loss and acknowledged the Queen’s significant impact and the love she received from people worldwide.
In the end, the release of Queen Elizabeth II’s death certificate shed light on aspects of her life that were unfamiliar to many. Her true name and unique occupation as the Queen will forever be part of her historical legacy.
