Elizabeth II

=== Dawn of the new millennium ===
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II with her British Prime Ministers during her Golden Jubilee in 2002.jpg|thumb|Golden Jubilee dinner with living British prime ministers, 2002: (left to right) Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, Edward Heath, Elizabeth, [[James Callaghan]], John Major]]
On the eve of the new millennium, Elizabeth and Philip boarded a vessel from [[Southwark]], bound for the [[Millennium Dome]]. Before passing under [[Tower Bridge]], Elizabeth lit the National Millennium Beacon in the [[Pool of London]] using a laser torch.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=December 1999 |title=Queen to visit Southwark on Millennium Eve |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/1299/queen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213021754/https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/1299/queen.html |archive-date=13 February 2022 |access-date=13 February 2022 |work=London SE1 |mode=cs2}}; | {{Cite news |date=31 December 1999 |title=Beacons blaze across UK |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/586264.stm |url-status=live |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213021743/https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/586264.stm |archive-date=13 February 2022 |ref=none |mode=cs2}}}}</ref> Shortly before midnight, she officially opened the Dome.{{Sfn|ps=none|Knappett|2016|page=24}} During the singing of ''[[Auld Lang Syne]]'', Elizabeth held hands with Philip and British prime minister [[Tony Blair]].{{Sfnm|ps=none|Shawcross|2002|1p=224|Bedell Smith|2017|2p=423}} Following the [[9/11 attacks]] in the United States, Elizabeth, breaking with tradition, ordered the [[American national anthem]] to be played during the [[Changing of the guard (United Kingdom)|changing of the guard]] at Buckingham Palace to express her solidarity with the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelso |first=Paul |date=14 September 2001 |title=US anthem played at changing of the guard |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/sep/14/september11.usa3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208005149/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/sep/14/september11.usa3 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2022 |title=After Sept. 11, Queen Elizabeth Ordered Up 'The Star-Spangled Banner' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/11/world/sept-11-queen-elizabeth.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214062824/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/11/world/sept-11-queen-elizabeth.html |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=The New York Times |mode=cs2}}</ref>

In 2002, Elizabeth marked her [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Golden Jubilee]], the 50th anniversary of her accession. Her sister and mother died in February and March, respectively, and the media speculated on whether the Jubilee would be a success or a failure.{{Sfnm|ps=none|Bond|2006|1p=156|Bradford|2012|2pp=248–249|Marr|2011|3pp=349–350}} The death of her sister shook Elizabeth; her funeral was one of the rare occasions where Elizabeth openly cried.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Erin |date=6 December 2022 |title=13 photos that show Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret's close sisterly bond |url=https://www.insider.com/photos-of-queen-elizabeth-and-princess-margaret-2022-9 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=Insider |mode=cs2}}</ref> Elizabeth again undertook an extensive tour of her realms, beginning in Jamaica in February, where she called the farewell banquet "memorable" after a [[power cut]] plunged [[King's House, Jamaica|King's House]], the official residence of the [[Governor-General of Jamaica|governor-general]], into darkness.{{Sfn|ps=none|Brandreth|2004|p=31}} As in 1977, there were street parties and commemorative events, and monuments were named to honour the occasion. One million people attended each day of the three-day main Jubilee celebration in London,{{Sfn|ps=none|Bond|2006|pp=166–167}} and the enthusiasm shown for Elizabeth by the public was greater than many journalists had anticipated.{{Sfn|ps=none|Bond|2006|p=157}}

[[File:Queen at NASA.jpg|thumb|left|Greeting [[NASA]] employees at the [[Goddard Space Flight Center]], Maryland, May 2007]]
In 2003, Elizabeth sued the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' for [[Breach of confidence in English law|breach of confidence]] and obtained an [[injunction]] which prevented the outlet from publishing information gathered by a reporter who posed as a [[footman]] at Buckingham Palace.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Higham |first=Nick |date=14 September 2012 |title=Analysis: The Royal Family's history of legal action |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-19599899 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606155117/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-19599899 |archive-date=6 June 2022 |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> The newspaper also paid £25,000 towards her legal costs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Matt |date=24 November 2003 |title=Palace and Mirror settle over fake footman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/nov/25/pressandpublishing.themonarchy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601015921/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/nov/25/pressandpublishing.themonarchy |archive-date=1 June 2022 |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref> Though generally healthy throughout her life, in 2003 she had [[keyhole surgery]] on both knees. In October 2006, she missed the opening of the new [[Emirates Stadium]] because of a strained back muscle that had been troubling her since the summer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 October 2006 |title=Queen cancels visit due to injury |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6087724.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217060327/https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6087724.stm |archive-date=17 February 2007 |access-date=8 December 2009 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref>

In May 2007, citing unnamed sources, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that Elizabeth was "exasperated and frustrated" by the policies of Tony Blair, that she was concerned the [[British Armed Forces]] were overstretched in Iraq and [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]], and that she had raised concerns over rural and countryside issues with Blair.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alderson |first=Andrew |date=28 May 2007 |title=Revealed: Queen's dismay at Blair legacy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1552769/Revealed-Queens-dismay-at-Blair-legacy.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/OFaqF |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=31 May 2010 |work=The Telegraph |mode=cs2}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> She was, however, said to admire Blair's efforts to [[Northern Ireland peace process|achieve peace]] in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alderson |first=Andrew |date=27 May 2007 |title=Tony and Her Majesty: an uneasy relationship |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1552767/Tony-and-Her-Majesty-an-uneasy-relationship.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/d1rD2 |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=31 May 2010 |work=The Telegraph |mode=cs2}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> She became the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary in November 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2007 |title=Queen celebrates diamond wedding |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7101094.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913162744/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?rnd=1631550463567&ci=bbc&cg=0&sr=1600x1000&ts=v51.js&cd=24&lg=en-US&je=n&ck=y&tz=0&ct=&hp=&tl=BBC%20NEWS%20%7C%20UK%20%7C%20Queen%20celebrates%20diamond%20wedding&si=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F2%2Fhi%2F7101094.stm&rp= |archive-date=13 September 2021 |access-date=10 February 2017 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> On 20&nbsp;March 2008, at the [[Church of Ireland]] [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland)|St&nbsp;Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh]], Elizabeth attended the first [[Maundy service]] held outside England and Wales.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2008 |title=Historic first for Maundy service |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7305675.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412102120/https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7305675.stm |archive-date=12 April 2009 |access-date=12 October 2008 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref>

Elizabeth addressed the UN General Assembly for a second time in 2010, again in her capacity as Queen of all Commonwealth realms and [[Head of the Commonwealth]].<ref name="UN">{{Cite news |last=Berry |first=Ciara |date=6 July 2010 |title=A speech by the Queen to the United Nations General Assembly |url=https://www.royal.uk/address-united-nations-general-assembly-6-july-2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114061854/https://www.royal.uk/address-united-nations-general-assembly-6-july-2010 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=18 April 2016 |work=The Royal Family |publisher=Royal Household |mode=cs2}}</ref> The [[UN secretary-general]], [[Ban Ki-moon]], introduced her as "an anchor for our age".<ref name="BBCUN">{{Cite news |date=7 July 2010 |title=Queen addresses UN General Assembly in New York |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10518044 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715050818/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10518044 |archive-date=15 July 2010 |access-date=7 July 2010 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> During her visit to New York, which followed a tour of Canada, she officially opened a memorial garden for British [[victims of the 9/11 attacks]]<!--Use common name-->.<ref name="BBCUN" /> Elizabeth's 11-day visit to Australia in October 2011 was her 16th visit to the country since 1954.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 2011 |title=Royal tour of Australia: The Queen ends visit with traditional 'Aussie barbie' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/8857106/Royal-tour-of-Australia-The-Queen-ends-visit-with-traditional-Aussie-barbie.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030150841/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/8857106/Royal-tour-of-Australia-The-Queen-ends-visit-with-traditional-Aussie-barbie.html |archive-date=30 October 2011 |access-date=30 October 2011 |work=The Telegraph |mode=cs2}}</ref> By invitation of the [[Irish president]], [[Mary McAleese]], she made the first [[State visit by Elizabeth II to the Republic of Ireland|state visit to the Republic of Ireland]] by a British monarch in May 2011.{{Sfn|ps=none|Bradford|2012|p=253}}