The passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 marked more than the death of one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. It brought to a close an era in British history that covered the nation’s transition from the ashes of the Second World War to its rise in the 21st century as a modern, multicultural democracy grappling with ethnic and economic tensions. More than just a figurehead monarch, the Queen was a global pop icon, arguably the most recognizable woman in the world. As the capital city bade farewell to its most famous resident, citizens mourned, celebrated, griped about the incessant television coverage – but there was a universal sense of change, an inflection point in the country’s trajectory into an uncertain future.