She was more than a queen — she was a symbol of strength, dignity, and unwavering resilience: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, known to the world as the Queen Mother, lived through and helped define an entire century.

Born on August 4, 1900, she witnessed two world wars, the fall of the British Empire, and the rise of a new global order. By the side of her husband, George VI, she became Queen in 1936 — at a time of crisis and uncertainty. But it was precisely in those moments that she showed her greatest strength: courage, grace, and an unbreakable sense of duty.

During World War II, she chose to remain in London despite heavy bombing raids, becoming a powerful symbol of hope and resistance for the British people. Her presence alone lifted a nation under fire.

After the death of her husband in 1952, she was officially known as the “Queen Mother” to avoid confusion with her daughter, Elizabeth II. Yet her influence never faded — she remained a beloved figure and a cornerstone of the monarchy well into her later years.

She passed away at the remarkable age of 101 on March 30, 2002 — leaving behind a legacy that still echoes today.