Marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Elizabeth has had a contentious relationship with the British media during her lengthy reign, which has included various lawsuits started by Her Majesty and her family. The Royals have been the subject of critical, occasionally scathing news attention over both their professional performance of their tasks and their private life. The Queen gradually cut less on her public appearances as she got older, especially following the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, in 2021. While personal favor of the Queen has remained high throughout her reign, societal support for the monarchy as an institution has waxed and waned. It hit 90% in 2012, the year of her Diamond Jubilee.

The younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Prince Harry, announced in 2017 that he was engaged to Meghan Markle, a divorced biracial woman who also happened to be an American. While it seemed unlikely that Harry would ever become king, the fact that Elizabeth's uncle had abdicated the throne decades earlier in order to wed a divorced American woman showed how public perceptions had altered throughout Elizabeth's reign. Nearly everyone embraced Meghan in public. Later developments showed she was not as welcome in the Royal Family's private quarters. Prince Philip warned his grandson not to wed his fiancée. After Meghan and Harry eventually gave up their royal responsibilities and moved to America, there was still tension between the Windsors based on their later appearances with the Royal Family. But Her Majesty stood apart from the conflict.

Louis XV of France is supposed to have stated, "After me, the flood," or "Apres moi, les deluge." According to the quote, after one is dead and gone, one is indifferent to happenings. It cannot be stated that Queen Elizabeth II is an exception. Her Majesty has served her people with patience, fortitude, and regal majesty for more than seven decades, despite the antics of some family members and occasional disputes in British society calling for the end of the monarchy. Her commitment is generally acknowledged and respected by the public. Regardless of who or what eventually succeeds her as the head of state of Britain, she will be a difficult act to follow.

• Year: 2018