Look Back at the Royal Family’s Sweetest Quotes About Queen Elizabeth II Through the Years

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Look Back at the Royal Family's Sweetest Quotes About Queen Elizabeth II Through the Years

One of a kind! Queen Elizabeth II was the head of the British royal family from 1952 until her death in 2022 — and her devotion to her country became an inspiration for her loved ones through the years. After her father, King George VI, died in 1952, a then-25-year-old Elizabeth inherited his place on the throne. Her coronation occurred the following year. As one of the longest-reigning royals in history, the queen became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee, which she celebrated in 2017 after 65 years as the leader of the Commonwealth. She also enjoyed her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, months before died the following september. Through several decades of her reign, Elizabeth had her husband, Prince Philip, by her side. The duo exchanged vows in November 1947 and went on to become the longest-married royal couple until the Duke of Edinburgh's death in April 2021. Elizabeth and her husband shared four children — King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne — along with eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Charles' sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have always been fond of their grandmother, as has Andrew's youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie. Following Philip's death, Eugenie promised to "look after" her beloved "Granny" in a heartfelt tribute to her late grandfather. In March 2020, Harry stepped away from his senior royal duties and moved to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie, who was born in May 2019. (The pair later welcomed daughter Lili in June 2021.) The move came as a shock to plenty inside the palace, but the couple did their best to remain on good terms with the monarch. [sendtonews type="float" key="G7tPleUOBG-2833702-14453"] "They have kept a great relationship with Philip and the queen," royal expert Omid Scobie told Entertainment Tonight in March 2021 as the Sussexes prepared for their CBS tell-all. When the sit-down interview aired, Harry reiterated that he'll "always" love his grandmother no matter how many miles are between them. "I've spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have done for many, many years," he said at the time, adding that he and Elizabeth have been able to reach "an understanding" since his royal exit. After Harry and Meghan decided to depart from their palace roles, the queen had had many a "heart-to-heart" with her grandson. "The last thing Elizabeth wants is for Harry to feel estranged from his family," a source told Us Weekly exclusively. The royal family, including Charles, William and Harry, as well as Andrew and Edward, rushed to Scotland in September 2022 to be by the monarch's side following reports that she was receiving medical treatment at Balmoral Castle. Buckingham Palace confirmed that she died at the age of 96 later that day. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the palace said in a statement at the time. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” Keep scrolling for a look back at some of the royal family's sweetest quotes about their matriarch:

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Look Back at the Royal Family's Sweetest Quotes About Queen Elizabeth II Through the Years

One of a kind! Queen Elizabeth II was the head of the British royal family from 1952 until her death in 2022 — and her devotion to her country became an inspiration for her loved ones through the years. After her father, King George VI, died in 1952, a then-25-year-old Elizabeth inherited his place on the throne. Her coronation occurred the following year. As one of the longest-reigning royals in history, the queen became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee, which she celebrated in 2017 after 65 years as the leader of the Commonwealth. She also enjoyed her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, months before died the following september. Through several decades of her reign, Elizabeth had her husband, Prince Philip, by her side. The duo exchanged vows in November 1947 and went on to become the longest-married royal couple until the Duke of Edinburgh's death in April 2021. Elizabeth and her husband shared four children — King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne — along with eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Charles' sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have always been fond of their grandmother, as has Andrew's youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie. Following Philip's death, Eugenie promised to "look after" her beloved "Granny" in a heartfelt tribute to her late grandfather. In March 2020, Harry stepped away from his senior royal duties and moved to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie, who was born in May 2019. (The pair later welcomed daughter Lili in June 2021.) The move came as a shock to plenty inside the palace, but the couple did their best to remain on good terms with the monarch. [sendtonews type="float" key="G7tPleUOBG-2833702-14453"] "They have kept a great relationship with Philip and the queen," royal expert Omid Scobie told Entertainment Tonight in March 2021 as the Sussexes prepared for their CBS tell-all. When the sit-down interview aired, Harry reiterated that he'll "always" love his grandmother no matter how many miles are between them. "I've spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have done for many, many years," he said at the time, adding that he and Elizabeth have been able to reach "an understanding" since his royal exit. After Harry and Meghan decided to depart from their palace roles, the queen had had many a "heart-to-heart" with her grandson. "The last thing Elizabeth wants is for Harry to feel estranged from his family," a source told Us Weekly exclusively. The royal family, including Charles, William and Harry, as well as Andrew and Edward, rushed to Scotland in September 2022 to be by the monarch's side following reports that she was receiving medical treatment at Balmoral Castle. Buckingham Palace confirmed that she died at the age of 96 later that day. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the palace said in a statement at the time. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” Keep scrolling for a look back at some of the royal family's sweetest quotes about their matriarch:

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Philip's Love Letters

"To have been spared in the war and seen victory, to have been given the chance to rest and to readjust myself, to have fallen in love completely and unreservedly, makes all one's personal and even the world's troubles seem small and petty," the late Duke of Edinburgh once wrote to the queen in 1946, one year before they tied the knot.

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Doting Grandsons

Harry and William gave rare insight into what it's like to be raised in the royal family during a 2012 interview with Katie Couric. "Behind closed doors, she's our grandmother, it's as simple as that," Harry said, while his older brother teased, "As I learned from growing up, you don't mess with your grandmother."

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Royal Role Model

Charles famously joked of his introduction to official royal life, "I learned the way a monkey learns: by watching its parents."

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Style Icon

Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's youngest daughter has a close bond with her dear "Granny," who she frequently visits at the royal family's Balmoral estate in Scotland. "I think Granny is the most happy there, I think she really, really loves the Highlands," Eugenie said in ITV's 2016 documentary, Our Queen at 90.

The queen was also "one of the very few people" who were the first to learn of Eugenie's engagement to her now-husband, Jack Brooksbank, and is a fashion inspiration for the princess. "Lots of my friends say, 'Oh, she's just the best style person there is, you know she looks great in her clothes,'" she previously told Tatler. "The style is something that is very unique to her."

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In Her Good Graces

Zara Tindall said her grandmother was never stern with her. "I always get the good look," she joked during an episode of husband Mike Tindall's "House of Rugby" podcast in 2019.

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Harry's Pride

Though he stepped back from his senior royal duties in March 2020, the Duke of Sussex has never stopped holding his grandmother in high regard. "Being able to serve Queen and Country is something we all are rightly proud of, and it never leaves us," he said in one of his final 2020 engagements at the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London. "Once served, always serving."

Insiders have previously told Us that Harry "adores" the queen. During his tell-all interview with his wife in March 2021, the former military pilot asserted that he will always have "deep respect" for the matriarch. "I've spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have done for many, many years," he said at the time. "My grandmother and I have a really good relationship and an understanding. ... She's my Colonel-in-chief, right? She always will be."

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Connecting With Meghan

"The queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me," Meghan told CBS in March 2021 while reflecting on her time as a senior royal. "I mean, we had one of our first joint engagements together. She asked me to join her, and I went on the train. And we had breakfast together that morning and she gave me a beautiful gift and I just really loved being in her company."

The Suits alum recalled being given "some beautiful pearl earrings and a matching necklace" from her grandmother-in-law. "We were in the car going between engagements," she added. "And she has a blanket that sits across her, her knees, for warmth and it was chilly and she was like, 'Meghan, come on,' and put it over my knees as well."

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Motherly Love

Sarah Ferguson praised her ex mother-in-law in August 2021 for always being her “greatest mentor” even after she split from Prince Andrew in 1996. "I think to myself that honestly, my mother-in-law has been more of a mother to me than my mother," she said during an episode of the “Tea With Twiggy” podcast. "I absolutely admire the incredible way Her Majesty is so modern. And how flexible, and how understanding, and how forgiving and how generous. I absolutely think there is no greater mentor. The consistency of Her Majesty has been a great honor. A huge honor. Makes me want to cry.”

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Charles Celebrates the Platinum Jubilee

“On this historic day, my wife and I join you all in congratulating Her Majesty The Queen on the remarkable achievement of serving this nation, the Realms and Commonwealth for 70 years,” read a February 2022 statement from Clarence House, released on Ascension Day. “The Queen’s devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year.”

Charles added that he was "deeply conscious of the honour represented by [his] mother’s wish” for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to be named Queen Consort when her son takes the throne.

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In ‘Great Form’

Us confirmed in April 2022 that Harry and the Suits alum secretly met with the queen in England before traveling to the Netherlands for the annual Invictus Games.

“Being with her, it was great,” Harry told Today’s Hoda Kotb several days later. “It was just so nice to see her. She’s [in] great form. She’s always got a great sense of humor with me. … Both Meghan and I had tea with her. It was really nice to catch up with her.”

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Mourning Her Legacy

Ferguson took to social media in September 2022 to pay tribute to her former mother-in-law after her death.

“I am heartbroken by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy: the most fantastic example of duty and service and steadfastness, and a constant steadying presence as our head of state for more than 70 years,” Fergie wrote via Twitter at the time. "She has given her whole life selflessly to the people of the UK & the Commonwealth. To me, she was the most incredible mother-in-law and friend. I will always be grateful to her for the generosity she showed me in remaining close to me even after my divorce."

The duchess concluded her heartfelt message, “I will miss her more than words can express.”

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Prince William Will Miss His ‘Grannie’

“On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute,” William wrote in a September 2022 Instagram statement, mourning the queen’s death. “So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign.”

He continued at the time: “I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of the queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. … She was by my side at my happiest moments and she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”

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A ‘Beloved Mama’

Prince Edward issued a statement after the death of his “beloved mama,” noting he was glad to have a private farewell at Balmoral before her state funeral.

“The Queen’s passing has left an unimaginable void in all our lives. [My wife] Sophie and I have taken huge pleasure in seeing our [children] James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much,” the Earl of Wessex wrote in a statement in September 2022. “Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom. Those times together, those happy memories, have now become massively precious to each and every one of us.”

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A 'Shining Example'

While reflecting on the royal family's loss, the Duchess of Sussex told Variety in October 2022 that she felt "deep gratitude" for being able to "get to know" Elizabeth before her death. "I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time," Meghan said. "What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. ... It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said, 'Now she's reunited with her husband.'"

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Prince Harry Reveals Final Conversation With Queen

The BetterUp CIO discussed his final conversation with the queen in his January 2023 memoir, Spare. Harry revealed that they “touched on many topics,” including her health, the “turmoil” in the Prime Minister’s office, the upcoming Invictus Games and the lawn at Frogmore Cottage, which was in “terrible shape.”

“‘It looks like the top of my head, Granny! Balding and brown in patches,’” he joked to the queen about the grounds and his thinning hair, to which Elizabeth laughed. “I told her to take care [and] I looked forward to seeing her soon.”

Harry, who traveled solo to the queen’s Balmoral Castle in Scotland upon her death, even had the chance to say goodbye before the official lying-in-state process began across the U.K. He wrote in Spare that he whispered to her that he “hoped she was happy” and had reunited with Philip, adding he was “in awe” of her performing “her duties to the last [days].”