HM Queen Elizabeth II, sadly passed away yesterday (8th of September 2022) at Balmoral at the age of 96. She reigned for 70 years making her the longest serving monarch in British history, as she was coronated at the age of 25 in 1952.

The Monarchy has been known to be behind the UK becoming more sustainable, and Her Majesty the Queen was behind the UK Government’s target to become net zero by 2050.

According to Vogue Magazine, the Queen was a ‘Conscious Fashion Influencer’ as she turned towards sustainable items of clothing and in 2019, she officially stated that she would no longer wear fur. The Queen was also a major supporter of slow fashion and was never one to live by the ‘only wear it once’ rule.

The Queen had also shown interest in attending COP 26, though due to ill health she could not attend. However, she voiced her annoyance towards the lack of action being taken to combat climate change. She was quoted claiming that she found it “really irritating when they talk, but they don’t do.”

According to reports there has been a number of sustainable changes to Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s reign including the reduction in electricity use, the production of honey on site to help increase the bee population, and the building of a fleet of hybrid electric cars, due to their energy efficiency.

It is reported that the Queen kept an eye on the amount of non-renewable energy that was being used to power and heat her home, therefore 40% of Buckingham Palace’s electricity now comes from renewable energy from two hydroelectric turbines on the River Thames.

Her Majesty’s son, King Charles III will now begin his reign alongside the new Queen Consort, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The new King is known for his work in conservation, as he is the president of the WWF, a patron of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and he has spoken at many green events outlining the need to increase sustainability in the UK and the world.

Although she was the Queen, she still leaves behind a family. At Going Green we send our condolences to her family during this time.