(Above photo - Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) )
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Despite her being the advanced age of 96, we never though it would happen. Like the North Star or the sun, she was always an overarching presence, seemingly immortal. She wasn't. Bringing with it immense grief and shock to the nation - and wider world - Queen Elizabeth II departed this mortal coil on September 8th 2022. It is the end of an era. An age has ceased.Â
Reigning as monarch for 70 years - her death neatly synched to the Diamon Jubilee - anyone under 75 years of age wouldn't have known anyone different on the throne. For most of us, and as the longest serving British Monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth II was always - like an ever present grandmother - sitting at the head of the table. Christmas dinners won't be the same without her summing up the year before and her insights on what may lie ahead. State events, visiting dignitaries, opening the new wing of a hospital, waving from the balcony at public events, trooping the colour, Buckingham Palace garden parties, the Queen was always a part of our lives as she smiled at us from the television. Despite never meeting her we felt like we knew her personally. She was above politics and united the country, a totemic taliswomen across class and race. In a turbulent world she provided a constant, whilst providing a link to the past and history.
There are many calls in some parts of the country and from other members of the Commonwealth - particularly Australia - to perhaps sever ties with the Monarchy. Of course all these debates are legitimate in democracies and worth having at some time (maybe not right now). Even amongst myself I do question some of the ethics of the hereditary principle and a life of privilege. But Queen Elizabeth II was born into this and pledged a lifetime of service to the country. That's what she exactly did and in doing so through her unique personality and values brought unity and light into the world. She never asked for the job - destiny chose her. As I get older I understand that revolutions that cut ties with tradition and history can often lead us into dangerous territory. I saw how a Constiutional Monarchy that operates above the polarising see saw of normal politics brings a harmonizing unity to the population. At other times - Jubliees, Royal Weddings - it can offer much needed moral boosts. In terms of theme park Britain and the value to tourism and Brand Britannia, the value of the Royal Family is immeasurable. If indeed we are boiling it down in purely economic terms.
Her loss will affect us in many ways. I see my dad - and anyone else of his generation - who was only seven when she first came to the throne in 1952. That's a very long time and the loss felt through her departure must be very deep for older generations. Personally, and based on the fact that I live abroad in the US it affected me in many different ways. I felt the strange loss of her as a person much like a grandmother and felt grief. An empty space in place of someone who had always been there. It also made me feel very homesick for Britain, like I wanted to experience this moment around kinsmen (and women) who maybe understood what we are going through. It made me homesick for all the quirky traditions, the humour, the pomp, a sense of reason and the grounding insight that some of these traditions go back for millennia. Like a Norman church or a Roman wall, they were here before me and are likely - hopefully - to outlast me.Â
So let's celebrate her life. A life lived fully and the namesake to the Elizbethan era. Right to the last moment she was fulfilling her duty. She had just seen departing Prime Minster Boris Johnson out and then met the new PM Liz Truss on September 6th. This was her last official photograph. Offering her service right to the end. Admittedly she did look frail but no one anticipated that two days later she would no longer be with us. It's still hard to believe and we are still in a state of shock.Â
Ma'am we salute you for your service and I express gratitude that I lived through some of your reign. We raise our glasses as a toast:
God Save The Queen Long Live The King
(Above photo - 70 year reign on the throne )
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