Tributes are pouring in from around the world for the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away Thursday at the age of 96. She was Britain's longest-reigning monarch, ascending to the throne in 1952. Her eldest son, Charles, now becomes king.  

If you would like more context on the matter, please consider Dane Kennedy, the Elmer Louis Kayser Professor Emeritus of History and International Affairs at the George Washington University. Kennedy’s areas of expertise include British imperialism, modern Britain, and world history.

On the Queen’s life and legacy, Kennedy says Queen Elizabeth was a calm, neutral political figure who stood above the fray, projecting a sense of unity and grace that was recognized widely by the people of Britain and around the world.

In a recent interview with Washington, D.C.’s ABC 7 News, Kennedy said, “Even though she only had symbolic and not real political power, it does stand as an anomaly in some respects to the trajectory of modern political systems. And the fact she kept that monarchy alive for the 70 years she reigned and not just alive, but popular, is an extraordinary feat.”

As for the future of the monarchy, Kennedy says King Charles III has big shoes to fill and will, to some degree, need to overcome some of the impressions the public already has of him.

“Charles is not a particularly popular figure and certainly other members of the family have created tension and have been the source of questions as well,” Kennedy said. “There will be honeymoon periods certainly for Charles. But I suspect he won’t elicit the same kind of love and the strong feelings that Queen Elizabeth herself elicited not just from the British public but the public around the world.”

If you would like to speak with Professor Kennedy, please contact the GW Media Relations Team at [email protected].

-GW-