Most Britons held her in great affection, as did her subjects in her many realms – of which 15 remained at the time of her death, including Canada and Australia. She was, therefore head of state of more of the Earth’s surface than anyone else. Her face was on so many currencies that it became one of the most reproduced images in history. For the rest of the world she was often regarded with amazement – not merely a person but a phenomenon. She was easily the most famous woman on the planet, despite having no interest in celebrity. In Germany, for instance, she was no longer described in the conventional way as ‘die Königin’, but simply as ‘die Queen’. On her death, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, memorably declared: “To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was The Queen.” When she came to the throne on 6 February 1952, more than half the countries on earth did not exist in their present form. She was a head of state who predated their flags, their anthems, and often their national boundaries.
