Queen Elizabeth II - A Chart Fit for a Queen

by Cathryn Hunter

When I was 21, I pledged my life to the service of our people.
 - Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II, 1959
 Source: Library and Archives Canada, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Queen Elizabeth II, natal chart, 21 April 1926, 2:40 am, Mayfair (London), England
Source: Astrodatabank, RR: AA

Queen Elizabeth II was born a Taurus with her Moon in the sign of Leo, the sign of leadership, loyalty and royalty. (Obviously not all Leo Moons are Kings and Queens, but I would venture to say that most would prefer to be treated as such). This combination embodies the qualities of strength, resolve, persistence, fearlessness, loyalty and willpower, for which she was known.

Queen Elizabeth

This is predominately a fixed sign profile, with six planets in fixed signs plus her Mid Heaven.

A fixed sign profile has the skills, the tenacity to dig in, stay with, and overcome setbacks and obstacles until the work is complete. Fixed signs have a difficult time with change; however, they are heroes who don’t give up the quest.

Capricorn Ascendant; Saturn conjunct Mid Heaven

I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.
 – Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday broadcast, Cape Town, South Africa, 21 April 1947.

Capricorn was her Ascendant with the Ruler of the Ascendant, Saturn, on her Mid Heaven. She was formidable. This configuration often presents a personal story of great achievement and status. The goodness of Saturn imbued her with maturity and wisdom, solid values, a strong sense of duty, steeliness, as well as success promised from tireless effort. Her Saturn-Mid Heaven conjunction is found in the public house of the chart indicating the weighty responsibility and duty that she assumed on behalf of her public and the collective. With the opposition to the IC, we often see great duty and obligation shouldered at a young age.

Queen Elizabeth II, Coronation, June 2, 1953, approximately 11 AM, London, England
Source time of coronation: Historic-UK.com

Coronation: June 2, 1953 approximately 11 AM

The chart of the event has something to say about the quality of the occasion, as well as possibilities that may come from the chart of the moment. Due to this astrological principle, astrologers look to the timing of the events to interpret the outcome and opportunity based on the astrological blueprint.

The chart of the moment for Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, was a chart indicating public prominence. The Sun and Jupiter, the Greater Fortuna, were placed in the tenth house of status, indicating increased standing, honors, fortune, and success. The Ascendant in Leo has its ruler in the Tenth increasing the fortune of the conjunction. A magnetic and powerful quality is promised with Pluto conjunct the Ascendant and sextile the Mercury-Mars conjunction in the tenth house. She would have the power as well as the will to accomplish and succeed, whatever her mission.

Additionally, at the time of Coronation the transiting Moon in Aquarius was conjunct the Coronation North Node and trine Sun-Jupiter signaling an expansive and influential reign.

Elizabeth II and the UK

In synastry, the Queen’s North Node is conjunct the United Kingdom’s Moon in the tenth house, and her Pluto is conjunct the MC of the UK indicating a connection of power and fate, one that might not be chosen. Through Elizabeth’s Capricorn Ascendant she expresses the solar qualities of the UK’s Sun in Capricorn. Liz Greene, in The Outer Planets and Their Cycles, speaking of Capricorn, “is a hierarchical sign, and firmly believes everything has its place. So is the incredible solidity and determination and doggedness”. Greene refers to the UK as having the Capricorn spine of stainless steel. So, the Queen and the UK make a well matched pair. (For the UK chart and Liz Greene's analysis of Pluto's transit through Capricorn, click here)

Her Death: An Archetypical Passage

Caroline Myss writes,

If you said The Queen, everyone knows it’s the Queen of England. It was Elizabeth. She was iconic. She embodied the queen archetype fully, totally and completely. Which is why this is an archetypal passage. This is exactly the type of experience that the world is going to feel the impact of for quite some time. Because with her passing, a shift in an archetypal pattern is going to happen. There’ll never be another queen like her ever.

Recently, astrologers have been whispering about the possibility of the Queens’s death or illness. A detractor might say that this is a no brainer, it’s obvious; after all she was 96 years old.

However, there were astrological cycles that indicated cautionary time periods beginning in January 2022 that involved the Nodes, eclipses, and Saturn transits.

From the end of February to Early April this year, the transiting South Node was conjunct the Queen’s natal MC-Saturn conjunction that is squared by Mars. This indicates a tide of energy going out in the area of her public domain, as well as a drain of vitality. Medical Astrologers Judith Hill and Eileen Nauman, DHM (UK) both identify the MC as one of the most sensitive points relative to health.

This same conjunction was eclipsed in May by a powerful South Node Lunar Eclipse, directing us to a health issue, possibly circulation problems. We might have expected the Queen to pull back on some of her ceremonial duties to compensate for the fatigue that often accompanies these factors. Between March and September 2022, transiting Saturn relentlessly assaults her MC-Saturn configuration, presenting additional cautionary aspects to her health. Transiting Saturn was conjunct her Mars and square her MC (Mars is the trigger that amplifies the aforementioned configurations), March, August- September. Transiting Saturn opposed natal Neptune which squares her MC (a weakening effect on the physical life force), March-April. Transiting Saturn squares natal Saturn, April – July (this can indicate the resurfacing of an ongoing health issue).

Date of Death

Queen Elizabeth II, died September 8, 2022 approximately 3 PM, Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Inner wheel: natal chart; Outside: chart of death
Source: Astrodatabank

On this date we have a transiting Saturn and Moon conjunct her natal Mars, all in the sign of Aquarius (a sign implicated in circulatory issues) and all factors square her natal Saturn-MC conjunction that was previously eclipsed in May 2022. The May eclipse is now re-activated by this transit as both Saturn and the Moon are in range of the degree of her previously eclipsed Saturn and MC. Saturn was in the bends (i.e. square) of the transiting Nodes, adding to pressure. Factors suggest hypothetically a cardio/circulatory issue. This is unconfirmed and theoretical.

This day presents cautionary astrological health themes that were doubling up and creating strain and pressure on the Queens well-being. Additionally, her age was relevant in her ability to withstand these cycles. Astrologer Judith Hill states,

South Node eclipses often reflect pending death from old age, wasting illnesses, even natural causes.

The transiting North Node-Uranus conjunction added an unpredictable and shocking quality to the day, (the Queen was active the day before), as it was square to the transiting Saturn-Moon on her Mars and opposed her natal Saturn.

Author:
Cathryn Hunter has been a lifelong student of astrology and has a thriving practice of twenty five years which is based in Los Angeles. Her work encompasses both modern as well as ancient techniques. She shares with her clients the translation of astrological symbols and archetypes into useful information and insights that can be helpful on one’s journey. Her monthly newsletter on current astrological trends can be found on her website. https://www.theplanetarycodes.com

© Cathryn Hunter, 2022