On 6 February 1952, aged just 25, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the Throne and became the monarch of seven independent States, including New Zealand. Now, 70 years later, she's Queen of the 15 Commonwealth Realms, some of which did not exist as independent nations at the time. This change in the world's geopolitical make-up is a strong reminder of the tremendous changes that have taken place in the world in the last 70 years, and through all of those years the Queen has stood as a model of service and unwavering dedication to her role. 