Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world’s most famous people and a storied figure in history, has died at age 96, and her son Charles is set to ascend the throne as king.
The iconic royal died surrounded by members of her immediate family at Balmoral Castle on Thursday. A woman born into the Royal family, she was never expected to become queen.
Born April 21, 1926, her life took a wild turn — one of immeasurable consequence — when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936, passing the crown and all its duties to his brother, young Elizabeth’s father.
In one fell swoop, she was next in line to the throne. Her accession in 1952 came earlier than many expected, when she was just 25.
Read more on etcanada.com