Elizabeth II, privileged witness to the end of the British Empire and African independence

Queen Elizabeth II on her first state visit to Ghana in 1961. AFP - -

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Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday September 8 at the age of 96.

The monarch had celebrated her platinum jubilee in June and throughout her 70-year reign, she has maintained close ties with the African continent.

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The queen's link with the continent is special since it was in Africa that she became queen.

In February 1952, Princess Elizabeth was 25 and she was on an official trip to Kenya when her father King George VI died of lung cancer.

The news is announced to her by her husband, Prince Philip. 

Upon her return to British soil, Elizabeth was officially proclaimed Head of State, of the Anglican Church and of the Commonwealth, this alliance which unites the former British colonies.

But in reality, Elizabeth's commitment to the Commonwealth began five years earlier, in 1947 during a trip to South Africa. 

Elizabeth was then 21 years old and she said these words: " 

 ".

A speech which constitutes the first commitment of the future queen with regard to the Commonwealth. 

The era of African independence

As head of the Commonwealth, Elizabeth II was also a privileged witness to the disintegration of the British Empire and African independence.

Despite this, the queen was able to maintain ties with the English-speaking countries of the continent, such as Ghana, the first country to gain independence in 1957, where she went in 1961.

This trip is then the first state trip of Elizabeth II in the modern Commonwealth, a trip which had also aroused reluctance in those around her.

There, Elizabeth II meets Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah.

She will even open the ball, dancing with the Pan-Africanist leader, a scene that will remain in the minds. 

In 1979, the Queen also visited Zambia, against the advice of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Indeed, Lusaka, the capital, hosts the Commonwealth summit.

It was on this occasion that Elizabeth II presided over the signing of the Lusaka Declaration on racism and discrimination.

An important text in which the leaders of the organization pledge to work hand in hand to eliminate racism, racial prejudice and apartheid policies. 

Friendship with Nelson Mandela

Elizabeth II will also maintain for years a complicated relationship with South Africa.

But over the years she will forge a special bond with Nelson Mandela who called her "my friend".

Their first meeting took place in 1991, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government dinner in Harare.

Mandela had been invited to the capital of Zimbabwe by its president Robert Mugabe.

At the time, Mandela, released in 1990, was still only the boss of the ANC, and South Africa was not part of the Commonwealth.

In May 1994 he became President of South Africa and within months South Africa joined the Commonwealth.

Elizabeth II alongside Nelson Mandela at Buckingham Palace in London on September 8, 2022. AP

Their relationship was marked by deep mutual respect.

In 1995, Mandela welcomed His Majesty to his country.

In 1996, it was the turn of the South African president to visit Elizabeth.

On a state visit to London, Mandela expressed his admiration for "

 " at a luncheon he organized in her honor.

A royal aide present that day explained to the

, still in 2002, that the Queen then got up to speak and improvised a little speech to greet a “

 ”.

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• Elizabeth II

• Africa

• Commonwealth

• UK