The Platinum Queen: A Look Back at the Life and Times of Elizabeth II (Online)

On September 8, 2022, the life and reign of Elizabeth II came to an end. Just a few short months prior, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth had celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  Seventy years ago, the British media heralded the arrival of “a new Elizabethan age” and now that she has died, so too may the final link between Britain and its imperial past. 

This lecture will highlight the personal and the political history of Elizabeth’s reign, how she navigated the post-World War II world, and the relationship between the monarchy to modern media from television to the internet. We will also discuss the Queen’s often troubled relationship with the tabloids, Royal triumphs and scandals, and what the future may hold for the next generation of monarchs as King Charles III now awaits his own public coronation ceremony.

Led by Dr. Julie Taddeo, this lecture will provide a framework for understanding the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II and the appeal of this British institution to Americans.

Julie Taddeo is Research Professor of History at University of Maryland, College Park. She is the author and editor of multiple books and articles on such topics as the Bloomsbury Group, neo-Victorian popular culture; British period drama television; the authors Catherine Cookson and Anne Perry; and Regency historical dramas.

She frequently gives public lectures on the Victorians; Royal Family scandals; and popular period drama TV series as a way to explore the British past. Visit her website to learn more at https://julieannetaddeo.com/