In one of her most famous speeches, then Princess Elizabeth addressed the Commonwealth from Cape Town, South Africa, on her 21st birthday.

"I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

Her life, as it turned out, would be long.

She died Thursday at the age of 96, after serving 70 years on the throne — longer than any other British monarch in history.

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