The United Kingdom was ruled by Queen Elizabeth II for 7 decades, making her the longest-serving monarch.
In 1936, Elizabeth II became Queen after her uncle renounced the throne. In the wake of the death of King George VI, Elizabeth, then 25 years old, was called to assume the throne and began her reign. 3News.com reported her passing which was described by the Royal Family as a peaceful demise.
In the course of her reign, she visited Ghana twice. The first was during the government of Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1961. In spite of Ghana’s problems, the Queen made this trip to prevent the country from leaving the commonwealth for the Soviet Union. When Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings was President, the Queen made her second visit to Ghana in November 1999.
Here are some photos from those visits and other meetings with Ghana’s former president;
Queen Elizabeth II and President Kwame Nkrumah
At the farewell ball in November 1961, the Queen and President Kwame Nkrumah danced to popular Ghanaian music known as high life.
In the history of the Commonwealth, this dance was symbolic in that the Queen used this tour to stop Ghana from leaving the commonwealth, among other things.
READ ALSO: Mahama sad to hear the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
President Jerry John Rawlings and Queen Elizabeth II
During a state banquet with Ghana’s President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Naana Rawlings in 1999, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended as a royal guest of honor. In Accra, it was held at the parliament building.
Queen Elizabeth II shakes Vice President Atta Mills
As she prepares to leave Ghana in November 1999, Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with vice president John Atta Mills.
President Kuffour and his wife visit Buckingham palace
The Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kuffour and his wife Theresa Kuffour visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2007. It was at Buckingham Palace that the queen hosted a state banquet in which she personally reviewed the table arrangements and the presentation of every plate.
President Mahama visits Queen Elizabeth II
In October 2014, President Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama, met privately with the Queen at Buckingham Palace during their official trip to the United Kingdom.
READ ALSO: Ghanaians react to Queen Elizabeth II’s death