June 15, 2017

Yesterday, on June 14, Leo Varadkar became the new prime minister of Ireland. Varadkar took over as leader of Ireland’s center-right Fine Gael (United Ireland) party on June 2, clearing the way for him to succeed Enda Kenny as prime minister. Kenny, who retired, had led Fine Gael since 2002. At just 38 years old, Varadkar is the youngest prime minister (called the taoiseach <<TEE shok>> in Ireland) in the country’s history. Varadkar is unique in other ways too: he is Ireland’s first prime minister of Indian descent and the country’s first openly gay prime minister as well. Varadkar is now just one of two openly gay heads of government (Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg is the other).

Leo Varadkar became the prime minister of Ireland in June 2017. Credit: © Liam Sweeney, Fine Gael

Varadkar addressed the Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament) after the body voted to confirm him as prime minister, saying, “I’ve been elected to lead but I promise to serve. The government that I lead will not be one of left or right because those old divisions don’t comprehend the political challenges of today. The government I lead will be one of the new European center as we seek to build a republic of opportunity.” Varadkar then visited Áras an Uachtaráin, the president’s residence in Dublin, where President Michael Higgins officially confirmed Varadkar as prime minister.

Varadkar was born on Jan. 18, 1979, in Dublin. His father is from Mumbai, India, and has worked as a doctor in England and Ireland since the 1960’s. His mother is a nurse from southeast Ireland’s County Waterford. Born of mixed Hindu and Roman Catholic faiths, Varadkar was raised Catholic. He joined Fine Gael while studying at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a medical degree in 2003. Varadkar became a general practitioner in 2010.

Varadkar entered local politics in 2004 and was elected to represent the Dublin West constituency in the Dáil in 2007. He was reelected as a member of parliament (called a teachta Dála, or TD) in 2011, and has since served successively as Ireland’s minister for transport, minister for health, and minister for social protection. In early 2015, Varadkar came out as gay, just a few months before Ireland voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

December 14, 2016

On Monday, December 12, New Zealand‘s Deputy Prime Minister Bill English was chosen to head the ruling National Party and subsequently became the country’s new prime minister. English replaced Prime Minister John Key, whose decision to resign last week came as a surprise to many New Zealanders. Key had served as prime minister since 2008 and had led the National Party since 2006. Key said he hoped the leadership change would breathe new energy into the party ahead of the 2017 general election. Key also expressed the desire to spend more time with his family.

Bill English became prime minister of New Zealand on Dec. 12, 2016. Credit: © Crown Copyright

Upon taking office, English said, “As prime minister, I am committed to building a New Zealand which rewards hard work and enterprise and which cares for our most vulnerable. I recognize the aspiration of all New Zealanders to flourish and this government will work hard to help them do so.”

Simon William English was born in the small Southland community of Lumsden in 1961. He was educated at St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, and later studied economics at the University of Otago and English literature at Victoria University of Wellington. He worked as a treasury analyst before returning to his family’s farm in Dipton, near Lumsden. English was first elected to New Zealand’s Parliament in 1990. He previously led the National Party from 2001 to 2003, and had served as deputy prime minister and finance minister since 2008.

July 14, 2016

Theresa May became prime minister of the United Kingdom on July 13, 2016. Credit: UK Home Office (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Yesterday, July 13, British politician Theresa May became prime minister of the United Kingdom. May, who was elected leader of the Conservative Party earlier this month, replaced Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron’s resignation yesterday followed through on a promise he made to step down after last month’s contentious “Brexit” referendum that will remove the United Kingdom from the European Union. May—who, like Cameron, did not support Brexit—faces a difficult transition period as the United Kingdom begins dealing with the many complications created by the referendum. May is the second woman (after Margaret Thatcher) to serve as prime minister of the United Kingdom.

After being formally invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, freshly minted Prime Minister May addressed the media outside No. 10 Downing Street, her new official London residence. May vowed to fight injustice and improve the lives of working-class families. She said her government’s mission was to work with the people to “build a better Britain,” and create a union “between all of our citizens.” She also said she would follow Cameron’s “one nation” example, praising him as a “great, modern prime minister.”

Theresa Mary Brasier was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, on Oct. 1, 1956. Raised in Oxfordshire, she later studied at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, and married banker Philip May. She worked at the Bank of England before serving as a local councillor in Merton, south London. After unsuccessful election bids in 1992 and 1994, May entered Parliament in 1997 as representative for Maidenhead in the House of Commons. She was appointed the first woman chairman of the Conservative Party in 2002 and named home secretary in 2010.

British Prime Minister David Cameron resigned from office on July 13, 2016, following his failure to stop passage of the “Brexit” referendum in late June. Credit: © Getty Images/Thinkstock

March 20, 2012

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom continued the commemoration of her diamond jubilee with a speech before a rare joint session of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. The Queen is celebrating her 60-year reign, which began in 1952 upon the death of her father, George VI. The only other British monarch to have achieved a diamond jubilee was Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother, Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901. Queen Elizabeth is the head of state of the United Kingdom as well as of 15 other countries that belong to the Commonwealth of Nations, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Elizabeth II has been the queen of the United Kingdom and head of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1952. (Courtesy of AP/Wide Wide)

During her speech, the Queen promised to “rededicate” herself  to serving the United Kingdom and its people. She also particularly thanked her husband, Prince Philip, whom she married in 1947,  for being her “constant strength and guide.” Her speech was greeted with a standing ovation by hundreds of dignitaries, including Prime Minister David Cameron and other members of the Cabinet.

In honor of the occasion, the Queen was presented with a stained glass window featuring her Royal Arms. The window, which was designed by British artist John Reyntiens, is to be installed above the north door of Westminster Hall and is a gift from members of both Houses of Parliament.

Additional World Book articles:

• Kings and queens of the United Kingdom
• Royal Family of the United Kingdom
• United Kingdom, History of (The Victorian Age–1840′s-about 1900)