The Life of Queen Elizabeth II

Plus: the pandemic’s effect on schoolchildren; the challenges facing Prime Minister Liz Truss; and alternatives to liberal democracy. View in browser | Update your preferences Thursday, September 8, 2022 In today’s newsletter, the life of the Queen, and then: • The pandemic’s devastating effect on schoolchildren • The challenges facing Liz Truss • Alternatives to liberal democracy The Life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen at milestone moments across the decades. Photograph from Bettmann / Getty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died today at the age of ninety-six. During her life, her country’s role in the world transformed, and so did her place within the United Kingdom. For more than eighty of those years, Elizabeth appeared in the pages of The New Yorker, as a wartime princess, as a young bride, and, later, through her many iterations as a ruler, matriarch, individual, and symbol. We’ve collected some of those pieces below, along with Rebecca Mead’s obituary. The Wayward Press A Ringside Seat at the Wedding The New York press covers Princess Elizabeth’s wedding, in 1947. By A. J. Liebling Letter from London The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II It seemed that everyone in the world was here. By Mollie Panter-Downes Profiles The Elder Daughter—I The business of being queen. By Anthony Bailey Fact and Fiction The Queen’s Touch How far is it worth travelling to have dinner with Her Majesty—and Prince Philip, of course (you can’t forget Prince Philip)? By Paul Theroux Editor’s Pick Postscript The Reign of Queen Elizabeth II Has Ended Elizabeth, who died on September 8th at ninety-six, led a life made up of privilege and sacrifice, and even those who resented the former acknowledged the latter. By Rebecca Mead The New Yorker Festival: Tickets are now on sale for our signature event, taking place October 7th through 9th in New York City. See the lineup » From the News Desk Our Columnists The Huge Economic Challenge Facing Liz Truss As energy prices soar and living standards plummet, the new British Prime Minister is planning a vast bailout of households and businesses. By John Cassidy Q. & A. Measuring the Pandemic’s Devastating Effect on Schoolchildren For fourth graders across the country, test results show the worst declines in reading and math scores in more than three decades. By Isaac Chotiner Culture Dept. A Critic at Large Can’t We Come Up with Something Better Than Liberal Democracy? The West’s favored form of self-government is looking creaky. A legal scholar and a philosopher propose some alternatives. By Adam Gopnik Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Will Nediger Daily Shouts Some Emotional Illusions Drawings that can be interpreted two different ways, depending on the viewer’s emotional state. By Adam Sacks Crossword A Beginner-Friendly Puzzle Greek philosopher who tutored Alexander the Great: nine letters. By Patrick Berry Daily Cartoon Thursday, September 8th By David Sipress P.S. “The English think that it will seem odd to be ruled by a queen again. They remember, however, that two of their distaff reigns were flourishing ones and they observe with growing confidence the serious-faced young Princess with whom they are finally beginning to get acquainted.” That’s the writer Mollie Panter-Downes, in a Letter from London column, from 1943, on the rise of then Princess Elizabeth. Today’s newsletter was written by Jessie Li. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.