Not many people can say to have lived long enough to witness some of the most important events of our history, from the Great Depression to World War II and Brexit. Queen Elizabeth II is one of them, with 70 years and 214 days of service to her country under her crown, which makes it difficult for people to wrap their heads around the fact such an iconic figure passed away! She has been one of the longest-reigning monarchs, second only to Louis XIV, and a constant presence in British culture, inspiring several generations with her charm and dedication. Being a queen is no easy job, but she committed most of her time on this Earth to it.
Queen Elizabeth II has become known for her sharp wit, unshakeable poise, and impeccable fashion sense, which won her people’s hearts. Even after her death, her persona continues to inspire them with her unwavering dedication to duty. Her love for Britain was evident in everything she did, from attending official ceremonies to her charity work. Throughout her reign, Her Majesty was associated with more than 600 charities and organizations — ranging from fencing and physiotherapy to bereavement care and women’s issues.
With such a vast curriculum of experiences under her belt, it’s no wonder the Queen of England delivered some iconic quotes and speeches. To commemorate her legendary rule, we’ve compiled a list with some of our favorite quotes by Queen Elizabeth II. Whether you are a long-time fan of the royal family or a newcomer to Her Majesty’s life story, you will have no trouble recognizing the wisdom, resolution, and heart she shared in these words.
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"I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."
"It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the harsh progress of mankind."
"While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us."
"The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some a**."
"For me, heaven is likely to be a bit of a come-down."
“While we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
"Even when your life seems most monotonous, what you do is always of real value and importance to your fellow men."
"I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust."
"The Bible tells how a star appeared in the sky, its light guiding the shepherds and wise men to the scene of Jesus’s birth."
“When peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.”
"We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection. With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock."
"Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide."
"We lost the American colonies, because we lacked the statesmanship to know the right time and the manner of yielding what is impossible to keep."
"No one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her."
"Many... have kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired."
"I don’t like to badmouth people. But I’m the head of a monarchy that began in the ninth century, and I’m apparently more modern than Chris Christie. Look, I know he has to appeal to the crazy right-wingers in his party, but the fact is, he’s not as forward-thinking as an eighty-seven-year-old lady who wears a crown on her head. It’s pathetic."
"It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult."
“You've all seen pictures of the earth taken from space. Unlike all the other planets in the solar system, earth shimmers green and blue in the sunlight and looks a very pleasant place to live.”
“We may hold different points of view but it is in times of stress and difficulty that we most need to remember that we have much more in common than there is dividing us.”
"Some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom. I'd like to think so. Perhaps, part of that wisdom is to recognize some of life's baffling paradoxes such as the way human beings have a huge propensity for good, and yet a capacity for evil."
"Even the power of faith which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice can fall victim to tribalism."
"Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within. Indeed, sadly, it seems that it is tragedy that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit."
"I simply ache from smiling. Why are women expected to beam all the time? It's unfair. If a man looks solemn, it's automatically assumed he's a serious person, not a miserable one."
"This new power, which has proved itself to be such a terrifying weapon of destruction, is harnessed for the first time for the common good of our community."
"It reminds us of the potential in our societies that is yet to be fully unlocked, and it encourages us to find ways to allow all girls and women to play their full part."
“It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow.”
"It has perhaps always been the case that the waging of peace is the hardest form of leadership of all."
"The upward course of a nation's history is due, in the long run, to the soundness of heart of its average men and women."
"It is almost exactly 13 years since the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on Good Friday 1998, paving the way for Northern Ireland to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is today."
"We see our own children and their families embrace the roles, traditions and values that mean so much to us, as these are passed from one generation to the next, sometimes being updated for changing times. I see it in my own family and it is a source of great happiness."
"1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘annus horribilis’."
"For I know that, despite the huge constitutional difference between a hereditary monarchy and an elected government, in reality, the gulf is not so wide and each, in its different way, exists only with the support and consent of the people."
"Think what we would have missed if we had never... used a mobile phone or surfed the Net or, to be honest, listened to other people talking about surfing the Net."
"It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."
“The wartime generation — my generation — is resilient.”
If a princess can be a mechanic in WWII, anything is possible gettyimage...4a70ec.jpg 
“Right around the world, people gather to compete under standard rules and, in most cases, in a spirit of friendly rivalry. Competitors know that, to succeed, they must respect their opponents; very often, they like each other too.”
“Religion and culture are much in the news these days, usually as sources of difference and conflict, rather than for bringing people together. But the irony is that every religion has something to say about tolerance and respecting others.”
“When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”
“Over the years, those who have seemed to me to be the most happy, contented and fulfilled have always been the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives.”
“Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves–from our recklessness or our greed.”
“In times of doubt and anxiety the attitudes people show in their daily lives, in their homes, and in their work, are of supreme importance.”
“Perhaps we make too much of what is wrong and too little of what is right. The trouble with gloom is that it feeds upon itself and depression causes more depression.”
“Our modern world places such heavy demands on our time and attention that the need to remember our responsibilities to others is greater than ever.”
“I believe that, young or old, we have as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride.”
“If we resolve to be considerate and to help our neighbours; to make friends with people of different races and religions; and, as our Lord said, to look to our own faults before we criticise others, we will be keeping faith with those who landed in Normandy and fought so doggedly for their belief in freedom, peace and human decency.”
“Though we each lead different lives, the experience of growing older, and the joys and emotions which it brings, are familiar to us all.”
"The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference."
“No age group has a monopoly of wisdom, and indeed I think the young can sometimes be wiser than us. But the older I get, the more conscious I become of the difficulties young people have to face as they learn to live in the modern world.”
“We know the reward is peace on earth, goodwill toward men, but we cannot win it without determination and concerted effort.”
“Such a blend of traditions serves to make us stronger, individually and collectively, by providing the ingredients needed for social, political and economic resilience.”
"I know of no single formula for success, but over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal, and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration, to work together."
"At the heart of our faith stand not a preoccupation with our own welfare and comfort but the concepts of service and of sacrifice as shown in the life and teachings of the one who made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant."
"Whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load."
"My husband has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years, and I owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim."
"First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her - for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys."
"Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements."
"In remembering the appalling suffering of war on both sides, we recognise how precious is the peace we have built in Europe since 1945."
"Madam President, speaking here in Dublin Castle it is impossible to ignore the weight of history, as it was yesterday when you and I laid wreaths at the Garden of Remembrance."
"The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience. It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbors and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere."
"If I am asked what I think about family life after 25 years of marriage, I can answer with equal simplicity and conviction, I am for it."
"All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner."
"His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation – were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him."
"I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death. I share in your determination to cherish her memory."
"It is difficult to realise that it was less than 50 years ago that women in Britain were first given the vote, but parliament was first asked to grant this 100 years ago."
"I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things: volunteers, carers, community organisers and good neighbours; unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special."
"We cheered the king and the queen on the balcony and then walked miles through the streets. I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief."
"The ceremonies you have seen today are ancient, and some of their origins are veiled in the mists of the past. But their spirit and their meaning shine through the ages never, perhaps, more brightly than now."
"It’s inevitable that I should seem a rather remote figure to many of you, a successor to the kings and queens of history."
“Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family, and in particular for 70 years of marriage. I don’t know that anyone had invented the term ‘platinum’ for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren’t expected to be around that long."
"And so as I look forward to continuing to serve you with all my heart, I hope this Jubilee will bring together families and friends, neighbours and communities – after some difficult times for so many of us – in order to enjoy the celebrations and to reflect on the positive developments in our day-to-day lives that have so happily coincided with my reign."
"There are long periods when life seems a small, dull round, a petty business with no point, and then suddenly we are caught up in some great event which gives us a glimpse of the solid and durable foundations of our existence."
"To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all."
"The function of constitutional monarchy is to personify the democratic state, to sanction legitimate authority, to assure the legality of means, and guarantee the execution of the public will. It is my ardent desire that no citizen in my realms should suffer restraint."
"Sadly we in Britain have been all too familiar with acts of terror and members of my generation... know that we have been here before. But those who perpetrate these brutal acts against innocent people should know that they will not change our way of life. Atrocities such as these simply reinforce our sense of community, our humanity, and our trust in the rule of law. That is the clear message from us all."
"In these testing times, it is my hope that you can draw strength and inspiration from what we share, as we work together towards a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for all."
"With a growing spirit of mutual understanding on so many levels, we stand ready to face the global challenges ahead, knowing that when we work together we can produce effective and enduring results."
“I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”
“I am reminded of a lady of about my age who was asked by an earnest, little granddaughter the other day 'Granny, can you remember the Stone Age?' Whilst that may be going a bit far, the older generation are able to give a sense of context as well as the wisdom of experience which can be invaluable.”
“The importance of family has, of course, come home to Prince Philip and me personally this year with the marriages of two of our grandchildren, each in their own way a celebration of the God-given love that binds a family together.”
“Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.”
“I know just how much I rely on my own faith to guide me through the good times and the bad.”
"By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost."
"Therefore I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendor that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen."
"At its heart, engineering is about using science to find creative, practical solutions. It is a noble profession."
"I have behind me not only the splendid traditions and the annals of more than a thousand years but the living strength and majesty of the Commonwealth and Empire; of societies old and new; of lands and races different in history and origins but all, by God's Will, united in spirit and in aim."
"At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child."
"For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first."
"It is easy enough to define what the Commonwealth is not. Indeed this is quite a popular pastime."
"None of us can slow the passage of time and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings."
"Through the many changes I have seen over the years: faith, family, and friendship have been not only a constant for me, but a source of personal comfort and reassurance."
"While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family."
"While Covid again means we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions. Be it the singing of carols (as long as the tune is well known); decorating the tree; giving and receiving presents; or watching a favourite film where we already know the ending, it’s no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines."
"Let the light of Christmas — the spirit of selflessness, love and above all hope— guide us in the times ahead."
"They teach us all a lesson - just as the Christmas story does - that in the birth of a child, there is a new dawn with endless potential."
"Family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of a community, organisation or nation."
"For Christians, as for all people of faith, reflection, meditation and prayer help us to renew ourselves in God's love, as we strive daily to become better people. The Christmas message shows us that this love is for everyone. There is no one beyond its reach."
"I hope that tomorrow we can all, wherever we are, join in expressing our grief at Diana's loss, and gratitude for her all-too-short life. It is a chance to show to the whole world the British nation united in grief and respect."
"I have sometimes thought that humanity seemed to have turned on itself: With wars, civil disturbances and acts of brutal terrorism... this world is not always an easy or a safe place to live in, but it is the only place we have."
"To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?"
"I have been aware all the time that my peoples, spread far and wide throughout every continent and ocean in the world, were united to support me in the task to which I have now been dedicated with such solemnity."
"Football's a difficult business, and aren't they prima donnas? But it's a wonderful game."
"When I was 21, I pledged my life to the service of our people and I asked for God’s help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgement, I do not regret nor retract one word of it."
"That consent, or the lack of it, is expressed for you, prime minister, through the ballot box. It is a tough, even brutal, system but at least the message is a clear one for all to read. For us, a royal family, however, the message is often harder to read, obscured as it can be by deference, rhetoric or the conflicting currents of public opinion."
"As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service."
"In the turbulence of this anxious and active world many people are leading uneventful, lonely lives. To them dreariness, not disaster, is the enemy. They seldom realize that on their steadfastness, on their ability to withstand the fatigue of dull repetitive work, and on their courage in meeting constant small adversities depend in great measure the happiness and prosperity of the community as a whole. The upward course of a nation's history is due in the long run to the soundness of heart of its average men and women."
"Experience shows that great enterprises seldom end with a tidy and satisfactory flourish. Together, we are doing our best to re-establish peace and civil order in the Gulf region, and to help those members of civil and ethnic minorities who continue to suffer through no fault of their own. If we succeed, our military success will have achieved its true objective."
"It is as queen of Canada that I am here. Queen of Canada and all Canadians, not just one or two ancestral strains."
"St. Paul reminds us that all Christians, as ambassadors for Christ, are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation."
