Elizabeth II served as Queen of the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her passing in 2022. Over the course of her reign, she was the monarch of 32 sovereign states and, at the time of her death, held the position in 15 realms. Her reign lasted for over 70 years, making her the longest-serving British monarch and the longest-reigning queen regnant in recorded history. Elizabeth II played a central role in the continuity of the monarchy and was a prominent figure in both national and international affairs throughout her lifetime.