Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth the Second, passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Her passing ending reign over the UK and its Commonwealths for over seventy years. The Queen ascended to the throne at the young age of 25 in 1952. She was the longest-serving monarch in British history. On the morning of September 8th, a spokesman for the royal family announced:

“Following further evaluation this morning, the queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.”

Just a few short hours later, an announcement was issued regarding the passing of the beloved monarch. The monarch’s children and a few of her grandchildren were with her in her final hours, spent at her beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

After her passing, her son Charles (now His Majesty the King Charles the Third) issued an official statement on Twitter:

“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

We mourn profoundly the passing of a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”

Queen Elizabeth II was beloved by so many–across the UK and worldwide. Yes, she was a regal figure; elegant and stoic; quiet but determined. But she was also very committed to her family, beloved by her father and mother (the former beloved Queen Mum). The observations she made were keen, wise, and inspiring.

Twelve Motivational Quotes from Queen Elizabeth II

Here are some motivational quotes by Queen Elizabeth II–let’s reflect on her wisdom as we mourn her loss around the world.

1. “What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass.”

Spoken in a speech in Dublin in 2011, Her Majesty acknowledged the long struggles between Ireland and Great Britain. Many dreamed of a time when they would work peacefully for the better of the entire United Kingdom. At this speech, she reflected that while the struggle long and bitter, they had moved past the strife and were ready to move forward to a harmonious and peaceful future for the next generations.

When you reach a goal, take time to pat yourself on the back–you earned it. Your road might have been long and the journey challenging, but you deserve to acknowledge your success.

2. “It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the hard progress of humankind.” 

Indeed, humankind is an ever-evolving work in progress. Queen Elizabeth acknowledged the role of women, who often find a gentle, more diplomatic way to solve problems.

3. “Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.” ~ Queen Elizabeth II

So it seems that even a Queen knows that we must learn to laugh at ourselves once in a while! The Queen was still a daughter, mother, grandmother, and aunt when not working in her official duties. In interviews, Royals occasionally refer to Queen Elizabeth’s dry sense of humor, which she displayed to her closest confidantes.

Cut loose, live a little, have some fun–by order of the Queen!

4. “Good memories are our second chance at happiness.” 

Life is full of tragic losses. However, when we lose someone we treasure, we have memories to cherish. Of course, grief is awful and painful. But as time passes, you can always smile back at the good times with your loved one.

5. “When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”

Queen Elizabeth II spoke this line during her 2008 Christmas address. Her country had service members fighting with the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides that, an economic crisis was bubbling to the surface, and the United Kingdom faced uncertainty. However, the Queen did what she often did–rallied the people of her country to count their blessings, live their best lives, and continue to progress towards better times.

6. “I know of no single formula for success. But over the years, I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm, and their inspiration to work together.” 

Her Majesty shared this wise observation in an address to the United Nations General Assembly in July of 2010. In it, the Queen admitted that she did not have all the answers, a rare moment of vulnerability for a Royal. However, she followed by noting the traits displayed by all the successful people she observed–effort, cooperation, and putting their talent to work.

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7. “Work is the rent you pay for the room you occupy on earth.” ~ Queen Elizabeth II

Here’s a tidbit many people don’t know about the Queen. She was incredibly close to her father, King George VI, who passed away in February 1952.

As World War II raged across Europe and bombs dropped across London almost daily, her father tried to keep the troops and people of her country hopeful. Still a teenager at the time, Princess Elizabeth did an incredible act of selflessness that inspired millions. In 1948, 18-year-old Elizabeth knew that she must display leadership. After all, she would one day lead her nation.

So she drove an ambulance in the Auxiliary Territorial Service to add to the war effort. Not only did she learn to drive the ambulance, but she also trained as a mechanic and fixed the vehicles, too! To this day, the Queen is still the only female in her family to have Army service.

Although born into wealth and luxury, young Elizabeth knew the value of hard work.

8. “Family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of a community, organisation or nation.”

Family can be a very sticky, messy business–blood relatives have spats, jealousy, and in-fighting. Sometimes you must find your soul tribe and make your own family.

9. “The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.” ~ Queen Elizabeth II

Indeed, the world can be cruel. At some point each of us must learn to reject toxic people and take charge of our own destiny.

10. “We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection. With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock.” 

Some people overthink. As a result, they freeze and fail to act when the should. Conversely, others act on impulse and make rash decisions they later regret. The advice from Queen Elizabeth? Take that deep breath, pause, and decide wisely.

11. “Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare.” ~ Queen Elizabeth II

Almost everyone admires those who are bold, courageous, and daring–they are the people who take calculated risks and change the world. So be bold and do a random act of kindness today; you’ll feel so good that you’ll want to do another. And another. And another…

12. “True patriotism doesn’t exclude an understanding of the patriotism of others.” 
The Queen seemed to understand that we all need empathy and acceptance of others. We should include everyone and make diverse points of view part of the fabric of our society.

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Final Thoughts on the Passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II was a head of state, a family member, the head of her church, and an inspiration to a worldwide audience. So many loved her mysterious smile and her kind eyes. Besides that, we listened to every word when she spoke. That’s because she always had a way of getting down to the bottom line in a common-sense, straightforward manner that did not belittle or shame anyone. She handled herself with grace for over seventy years and throughout multiple global and family tragedies. But she always did so with kindness and courage.