Queen Elizabeth II has had her highs and lows during her time as a monarch for almost seven decades. But in one particular year, Her Majesty suffered heartbreaking blows after losing two members of the royal family who are both close to her heart.
The year 2002 was Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee, which marked her 50th anniversary on the throne. However, it was a bittersweet time and full of heartaches for the monarch as she experienced two devastating losses in that same year.
On February 6, 1952, the Queen ascended the throne, and the coronation was held on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. The year 2002 marked the monarch's half a century, which is considered an exceptional milestone for any Queen or King.
But then, a tragedy struck just a few days after the anniversary. Queen Elizabeth's younger sister, Princess Margaret, died just three days after Her Majesty's 50th anniversary. The Princess died at the age of 71 following a stroke, which resulted in cardiac problems.
The two sisters are reportedly close and had stuck together through thick and thin. Elizabeth, Margaret, and their mother, The Queen Mother, were reportedly often referred as an "impenetrable trio" and their bond seemed to be "unbreakable" to outsiders.
Princess Margaret had taken a step back from the royal spotlight and seen less frequently in public. During her last public appearance, however, the Princess was reportedly confined in a wheelchair and wore heavy dark glasses, which indicated she had been affected by a stroke.
After Princess Margaret's death, Queen Elizabeth once again dealt with another heartbreaking loss as her mother passed away. On March 30, 2002, The Queen Mother died at the age of 101, and reports said Her Majesty was beside her mother when she passed away at her Windsor home.
In an official statement at that time, Buckingham Palace relayed Queen's "great sadness" over the death of her mother. Even though Her Majesty described 1992 as her "annus horribilis," the year 2002 was a tough year for the monarch as well.
In another report, a newly-resurfaced interview of Princess Anne revealed why Queen Elizabeth is "always in danger." The monarch's daughter said that members of the royal family face real danger - most especially Her Majesty.
While there have been several attempts on Queen Victoria, Princess Anne said her mother might have had more assassination attempts, and it's "worse." The most notorious one reportedly happened during the '70, while the Queen and her husband Prince Philip made an extensive tour in Australia.
