| When Queen Elizabeth II ascended the British throne 70 years ago, she was a young wife and mother of two. At the age of 25, she started her reign as the longest-serving British monarch, a constant, reassuring figure through major geopolitical and societal shifts. In the wake of her death last week at age 96, the world is processing the end of an era. Most of us have never known life without Elizabeth on the throne — and many are questioning what happens next. Here's what to know: Elizabeth's eldest son, King Charles III, has inherited the sovereign title. And while the wife of a king usually assumes the title of queen, this hasn't been a given for Camilla. It may be months or even longer before Charles's formal coronation. But his accession to the throne is a moment that the United Kingdom has been preparing for with an elaborate plan known as "Operation London Bridge". Still, the queen's death comes as a shock all the same. Britain has entered "royal mourning" — a period Buckingham Palace announced would extend until seven days after the state funeral Sept. 19. A number of world leaders are expected to attend the service at London's Westminster Abbey. Many of them, including Pope Francis and British Prime Minister Liz Truss, have shared condolences and reflections on her legacy. And in a statement after her death on Thursday, President Biden called Elizabeth more than a monarch — "she defined an era." The days to come will surely prompt deep scrutiny of her legacy — from her place as a feminist icon to her role in the nation's imperial past. Some are even wondering what will happen to her beloved corgis. Others, meanwhile, are remembering her as wickedly funny, the last of her kind and a symbol of stability. | 
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