paces behind her for so many years was now absent. elizabeth had the lost the husband who'd meant so much to her. but despite the great sadness of her loss, there was never any question of her withdrawing from the path of duty. she marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, a record no other monarch had achieved, in february 2022. by then, it was apparent that she was rather more frail physically than before, though mentally as sharp as ever. her doctors had advised her to take things a little easier — "light duties" was the expression used by the palace, but every day there were red boxes full of official papers to deal with. in a message to 70 years on the throne, she said she was humbled by the loyalty and affection she'd received through out her reign. and she signed the statement,