(1926-2022)
The European Society for the Study of English mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, 2022, aged 96. She was the longest serving monarch the United Kingdom has ever seen. Her death ended a rule of 70 years that saw 15 prime ministers from Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson and, finally, to Liz Truss, whom she formally invited to become prime minster only two days before her death. Her son Charles succeeds her on the throne and will now be known as King Charles III. In a statement, he called the death of his mother “a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” adding that “her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” ESSE is saddened by the news and wishes to express its deepest condolences to the Royal Family, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.