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THE CROWN MAY BE DIMINISHED, BUT ELIZABETH REMAINS SHINING

Saturday, September 9, 2023

In today’s newsletter, on the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death, we reflect on her crowning achievement. Plus, we figure out if we’re taking the wrong medications, step inside Jesus’ reputed tomb, and question why human remains went to space.

Princess Elizabeth (center) and the rest of the royal family greet the crowd after the coronation ceremony for her father, King George VI, in May 1937.

PHOTOGRAPH VIA CENTRAL PRESS, GETTY

She was never supposed to be queen. And her longest-ever reign coincided with the sharp decline of the British Empire.

Yet, the magic of Queen Elizabeth II, who died a year ago yesterday, was that she attained worldwide dignity and stature while Britain’s size and power diminished. The monarchy seems reduced in profile today under her long-waiting successor, Charles III. How did Elizabeth maintain such above-the-fray sway?

THE ACCIDENTAL MONARCH

Queen Elizabeth II, seated on a golden throne and wearing the jeweled State Crown, opens Parliament in 1960.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT GOODMAN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

From childhood to power: At top, the future Queen Elizabeth II (center) at the coronation of her father, King George VI, in 1937. Above, Elizabeth, seated on a golden throne, opens Parliament in 1960. On this day in 2015, she passed Queen Victoria as longest-serving British monarch. Read more.

Related:
—A lifetime of devotion and service
—Exclusive Nat Geo photos of Queen Elizabeth

Unlock this article with Nat Geo Premium! Get access now to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos. See subscription options starting at just $19/yr.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

two people eat at their desks

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN FINKE

Do you have ordinary or chronic stress? (Above, two people eat at their desks.)

Unsealing of Jesus’ reputed tomb turns up new revelations Related: How old is the tomb? We found out.

Are you taking an inappropriate medication?

People are healthier and live longer in these five places

Is it possible to cure hot flashes? We may be getting closer.

How old are you, really? The answer is written on your face.

This summer's extreme weather is a sign of things to come

The place where salmon rule. Related: Wild salmon counts up in U.S. rivers for first time in a decade

What does a melting glacier sound like? 'Gunshots.'

This unique fish farm could feed America's appetite for protein. Why does only one exist?

Meet Simon and Jekyll, two great white sharks on a 4,000-mile journey together. Are they … friends?

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Children mobilized for the annual mass games in Pyongyang act as pixels to portray a happy patriot in uniform.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID GUTTENFELDER

Look closely: It looks like pixels in an image. It is really children mobilized in what nation (which is celebrating its founding today)?

A. Chile
B. Spain
C. Japan
D. North Korea

Related: Finding the ordinary amid this nation’s extravagant propaganda displays

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Australopithecus sediba juvenile male skeleton from the Malapa site. A section of clavicle from Australopithecus sediba was chosen for this mission.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRENT STIRTON, GETTY IMAGES/NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

A new frontier in space: Alongside three private astronauts, two pilots and one astronaut instructor, two unlikely passengers were also onboard Virgin Galactic’s third commercial spaceflight: the remains of ancient humans (a male skeleton above). But why even send fossils into space?

A BLAST FOR THE PAST

ZOMBIES, VIKINGS, AND A POET

Stacks of past issues of National Geographic magazines against a white background.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BECKY HALE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Adventure awaits: What to do with old copies of National Geographic? Writer Tara Conklin grabbed them—and their tales of zombie-creating worms, a passionate Chilean poet, and honey-laden Viking ships—for a yellow-backed theme of her latest novel, Community Board.

“In envisioning what a childhood home looks like—that place of return—I instinctively placed a stack of National Geographic magazines somewhere in the house,” Conklin tells us. And yes, dear reader, page-turning drama and hilarity ensue.

What do you do with your old Nat Geos? Let us know.

THE ALLURE OF YELLOW-BACKED SPINES

Today’s soundtrack: Killer Queen, Queen

This newsletter has been curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and Jen Tse. Amanda Williams-Bryant, Alisher Egamov, Rita Spinks, and Jeremy Brandt-Vorel also contributed this week. Thanks for reading!

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