She was one of the most iconic figures in world history: a queen whose reign had outlasted all other British monarchs and most other world leaders, too. But though she stood for the continuity and tradition of the English monarchy, Elizabeth II’s reign was anything but predictable. From the time she took the throne in 1952 to her death in 2022, the queen redefined what it meant to be a monarch—and withstood a tremendous amount of change within her family, her country and the world.

“Change is a constant,” said the monarch as she addressed Parliament during her Golden Jubilee in 2002, “managing it has become an expanding discipline. The way we embrace it defines our future.” 

In this class we will examine some of the most dramatic changes during Elizabeth’s reign from the 1950s to the 21st century. We will discuss the notion of "change and continuity" in historical studies by way of England's longest reigning monarch. Students should be ready to participate in the discussion during class with ideas about change and how things stay the same.