Back in 2015, Queen Elizabeth II made a rare statement. “In the modern world, the opportunities for women to give something of value to society are greater than ever,” she told 5,000 members of the Women’s Institute gathered at the Royal Albert Hall. In her precise, gentle tone, she spoke of British women’s legacies: those who fought to get women the vote, others who conquered Mount Everest, and the importance of a woman becoming prime minister. “Through their own efforts,” she commended, “they now play a much greater part in all areas of public life.”

Amid her countless public appearances, this short speech passed by relatively quietly. But, particularly in the days and weeks after the death of Her Majesty the Queen, as a period of grief gives way to reflection on her life and rule, it bears a significance that shouldn’t be ignored. As the world begins to question what a second Elizabethan period will look like written down in the history books, we’re also asking what the Queen meant to the people she reigned over. What legacy does she leave to the women of Britain?

A huge question, admittedly, and difficult to quantify. Despite unprecedented change throughout her astonishing 70 years of rule, she remained consistently steady, solid – and notably neutral. “It was rare that we got a glimpse of the Queen’s opinion or even her fantastic sense of humour,” says historian Tracy Borman. “With the Queen, it’s been more about the role of monarch – the institution itself – than the personality. She was subsumed by her role, which is an incredible burden to bear, and one that takes an awful lot of strength. That we know so relatively little of her is testament to her unwavering – and selfless – commitment.” In the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Borman says, actions spoke louder than words.