Elizabeth II

=== Pandemic and widowhood ===
On 19&nbsp;March 2020, as the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic hit the United Kingdom]], Elizabeth moved to Windsor Castle and sequestered there as a precaution.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Friel |first=Mikhaila |date=16 March 2020 |title=The royal family is canceling events because of the coronavirus, and the Queen may be asked to self-isolate for up to 4 months |url=https://www.insider.com/how-coronavirus-will-impact-queen-elizabeth-royal-schedule-2020-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908185425/https://www.insider.com/how-coronavirus-will-impact-queen-elizabeth-royal-schedule-2020-3 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=[[Business Insider|Insider]] |mode=cs2}}</ref> Public engagements were cancelled and Windsor Castle followed a strict sanitary protocol nicknamed "HMS Bubble".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 November 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Queen and Prince Philip return to Windsor Castle for lockdown |url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-queen-and-prince-philip-return-to-windsor-for-lockdown-12121882 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621150341/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-queen-and-prince-philip-return-to-windsor-for-lockdown-12121882 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |publisher=Sky News |mode=cs2}}</ref>

[[File:A private audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.jpg|thumb|left|[[Virtual meeting]] with [[Cindy Kiro]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]], October 2021]]
On 5&nbsp;April, in a televised broadcast watched by an estimated 24&nbsp;million viewers in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 April 2020 |title=Coronavirus: The Queen's message seen by 24 million |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52183327 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710073241/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52183327 |archive-date=10 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> she asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 April 2020 |title=Coronavirus: The Queen's broadcast in full |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52176208 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825205418/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52176208 |archive-date=25 August 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> On 8&nbsp;May, the 75th anniversary of [[VE Day]], in a television broadcast at 9&nbsp;pm—the exact time at which her father George&nbsp;VI had broadcast to the nation on the same day in 1945—she asked people to "never give up, never despair".<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 May 2020 |title=VE Day: UK's streets not empty as filled with love, says Queen |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52590865 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709230720/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52590865 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> In 2021, she received her first and second [[COVID-19 vaccinations]] in January and April respectively.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |last=Busby |first=Mattha |date=9 January 2021 |title=The Queen and Prince Philip receive first dose of Covid vaccine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/09/the-queen-and-prince-philip-receive-first-dose-of-covid-vaccine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184958/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/09/the-queen-and-prince-philip-receive-first-dose-of-covid-vaccine |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |ref=none |mode=cs2}}; | {{Cite web |last=Petit |first=Stephanie |date=1 April 2021 |title=Queen Elizabeth Received Her Second COVID-19 Vaccine Before First Maskless Outing of the Year |url=https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-received-second-covid-vaccine-before-outing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808020126/https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-received-second-covid-vaccine-before-outing |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |website=People |ref=none |mode=cs2}}}}</ref>

Prince Philip [[Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|died on 9&nbsp;April 2021]], after 73 years of marriage, making Elizabeth the first British monarch to reign as a [[widow]] or widower since Queen Victoria.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=9 April 2021 |title=Prince Philip: After over 70 years by her side, the Queen faces a future without her 'strength and stay' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-04-09/prince-philip-after-over-70-years-by-her-side-the-queen-faces-a-future-without-her-strength-and-stay |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409125554/https://www.itv.com/news/2021-04-09/prince-philip-after-over-70-years-by-her-side-the-queen-faces-a-future-without-her-strength-and-stay |archive-date=9 April 2021 |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=ITV News |mode=cs2}}; | {{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=Caitlin |date=9 April 2021 |title=Queen will complete her reign in the same sad way as great-great grandmother Queen Victoria |work=GoodtoKnow |url=https://www.goodto.com/royal-news/queen-reign-prince-philip-died-queen-victoria-593479 |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611164919/https://www.goodto.com/royal-news/queen-reign-prince-philip-died-queen-victoria-593479 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |ref=none |mode=cs2}}}}</ref> She was reportedly at her husband's bedside when he died,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tominey |first=Camilla |author-link=Camilla Tominey |date=9 April 2021 |title=Prince Philip's peaceful passing reflects a remarkable life lived in self-effacing dignity |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2021/04/09/prince-philips-peaceful-passing-reflects-remarkable-life-lived |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410160905/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2021/04/09/prince-philips-peaceful-passing-reflects-remarkable-life-lived |archive-date=10 April 2021 |access-date=11 May 2021 |work=The Telegraph |mode=cs2}}</ref> and remarked in private that his death had "left a huge void".<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 2021 |title=Prince Philip: The Queen says his death has 'left a huge void' – Duke of York |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56710086 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908161855/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56710086 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place in England at the time, Elizabeth sat alone at Philip's funeral service, which evoked sympathy from people around the world.<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |last=Abraham |first=Ellie |date=17 April 2021 |title=Social Media Reacts to 'heartbreaking' Image of Queen Sitting Alone at Prince Philip's Funeral |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-alone-prince-philip-funeral-b1833152.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706220849/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-alone-prince-philip-funeral-b1833152.html |archive-date=6 July 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Independent |ref=none |mode=cs2}}; | {{Cite news |last=Hassan |first=Jennifer |date=17 April 2021 |title=Image of Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;II sitting alone at Philip's funeral breaks hearts around the world |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/17/queen-funeral-alone-chapel-philip |url-status=live |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512191857/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/17/queen-funeral-alone-chapel-philip |archive-date=12 May 2021 |ref=none |mode=cs2}}}}</ref> In her Christmas broadcast that year, which was ultimately her last, she paid a personal tribute to her "beloved Philip", saying, "That mischievous, inquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him."<ref>{{Multiref|{{Cite news |date=25 December 2021 |title=Queen's Christmas message pays tribute to 'beloved' Philip |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59768736 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220143732/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59768736 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}; | {{Cite news |last=Ship |first=Chris |date=25 December 2021 |title=Queen remembers 'mischievous twinkle' of Prince Philip in emotional Christmas message |work=ITV News |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-12-25/queen-remembers-mischievous-twinkle-of-philip-in-emotional-christmas-message |url-status=live |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215133432/https://www.itv.com/news/2021-12-25/queen-remembers-mischievous-twinkle-of-philip-in-emotional-christmas-message |archive-date=15 February 2022 |ref=none |mode=cs2}}}}</ref>

Despite the pandemic, Elizabeth attended the [[2021 State Opening of Parliament]] in May,<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2021 |title=Queen's Speech 2021: What can we expect? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56987630 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510025817/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-56987630 |archive-date=10 May 2021 |access-date=10 May 2021 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> the [[47th G7&nbsp;summit]] in June,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mills |first=Rhiannon |date=12 June 2021 |title=G7 summit: Queen charms prime ministers and presidents |url=https://news.sky.com/story/g7-summit-queen-charms-prime-ministers-and-presidents-12330626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612035541/https://news.sky.com/story/g7-summit-queen-charms-prime-ministers-and-presidents-12330626 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |access-date=12 June 2021 |publisher=Sky News |mode=cs2}}</ref> and hosted US president [[Joe Biden]] at Windsor Castle. Biden was the 14th US president that the Queen had met.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 June 2021 |title=Queen meets Joe Biden at Windsor Castle |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57461257 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617081244/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57461257 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=BBC News |mode=cs2}}</ref> In October 2021, Elizabeth cancelled a planned trip to Northern Ireland and stayed overnight at King Edward VII's Hospital for "preliminary investigations".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Harry |date=21 October 2021 |title=The Queen spent night in hospital after cancelling Northern Ireland visit |url=https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/21/the-queen-spent-night-in-hospital-after-cancelling-northern-ireland-visit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207235721/https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/21/the-queen-spent-night-in-hospital-after-cancelling-northern-ireland-visit |archive-date=7 December 2023 |access-date=4 March 2024 |work=The Guardian |mode=cs2}}</ref> On Christmas Day 2021, while she was staying at Windsor Castle, 19-year-old Jaswant Singh Chail broke into the gardens using a rope ladder and carrying a [[crossbow]] with the aim of assassinating Elizabeth in revenge for the [[Amritsar massacre]]. Before he could enter any buildings, he was arrested and detained under the [[Mental Health Act 2007|Mental Health Act]]. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to attempting to injure or alarm the sovereign.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2023 |title=Man admits treason after breaking into grounds of Windsor Castle with crossbow 'to kill Queen' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/man-admits-trying-to-harm-queen-after-being-caught-in-grounds-of-windsor-castle-with-a-crossbow-12802059 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203113557/https://news.sky.com/story/man-admits-trying-to-harm-queen-after-being-caught-in-grounds-of-windsor-castle-with-a-crossbow-12802059 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |access-date=3 February 2023 |publisher=Sky News |mode=cs2}}</ref>