The Queen’s reign oversaw seismic change. What will another 70 years bring?
There are five things that seem likely to have happened by the time the UK has, perhaps, a King George VII on the throne, writes Hamish McRae
The past 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign have seen extraordinary change in the UK economy, but even larger changes in that of the world as a whole. This time of national mourning is an opportunity for reflection, but it is also a chance to think about the next 70 years and what they might hold.
The story of the UK economy since the Second World War has been told so many times that it is just worth noting the key features. The narrower economic issues include the decline of manufacturing, the long shadow of the massive debts accumulated during the war, the transformation into a service economy, the end of empire, the entry into and exit from the European Union, and so on.
The rise in life expectancy, the growth in the number of women in the workforce, the advance of higher education, and social attitudes more generally make up the wider socioeconomic changes.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies