Watching the news now and if she has sadly departed then i hope they manage to release another 'final' photo of her. Seems a bit of a piss take that if after everything she did in her life, the final photo of her in existence is with Liz Truss!
Who wrote a thesis when she was younger explaining how we dont need the monarchy Tories how do they sleep at night ?
Did she actually write a thesis about abolishing the monarchy?
Feel like she is the last of that "special" generation that had been through the 2nd World War, my Mum and Dads generation. God bless you Madam,
Thank you for your service and love,
RIP Elizabeth R.
GOD SAVE THE KING
This is the line for me she was the very finest of the very finest of generations. Very few of them left now. My Grandparents generation. My Grandmother served as an army driver and then a nurse during the war and always reminded us grandkids that the Queen also did time as a driver. In a way they were an extra set of Grandparents to us all. Strange feeling today.
Watching King Charles arrive at Buckingham Palace. Crikey - this is a monumental moment in history isn’t it.
Crazy seeing him shaking hands with the crowds with what looks such an upbeat expression on his face - Bloke lost his last parent less than 24-hours ago and is managing this.
It must be lovely being born to privilege, but it must be horrible not being able to live a completely normal life too.
I didn't expect The King to meet the crowds outside Buckingham Palace, but it is good to see and shows he knows how important these first few days are.
Had an email today saying my new passport has been printed and will be posted out to me soo. Imagine it will be one of the last to have her majesty in it rather than his majesty.
Unexpectedly, I was moved to tears when the news of our Queen's passing was officially announced, accompanied by footage of her most recent public appearances, especially the welcoming of our new PM just 2 days earlier.
This strong, resilient & ever present lady appeared so very frail outwardly, yet continued to fulfill her duties as resiliently & wholeheartedly as she had always done. On reflection, I have to wonder how poorly she was feeling underneath that unchanging countenance.
As the evening progressed, I found myself reaching for the tissues time & time again, without, seemingly, anything in particular precipitating said tears.
It wasn't until past midnight, as, in bed, I read the usual dozen or so pages of my current book before turning off the light, I "allowed" myself to acknowledge that I was resurrecting the death of my old Mum almost 7 years ago at the age of 95.....and although Mum was almost 6 feet tall, she had the same silvery hair & the same demeanour as our Monarch.
Whether it was the realisation that I hadn't mourned this very special lady properly together with memories of failing to spend enough time with her in those later years, I know not. But shallowly buried feelings of guilt were brought crashing into focus as I was forced to confront them and the flood gates opened. And the realisation that I am barely 20 short years away from this unenviable position should I have similar longevity. A sobering thought indeed.
Then, as if "someone up there" was reading my mind, there was a peal of thunder, the heavens opened & torrential rain bucketed down all around the house, and seemingly brought me back to reality and time to admonish myself for being a silly old c*w ..... not for the first or the last time.
And, looking back to that night, it was as though that downpour epitomised all the tears of an adoring & grateful nation at the loss of their beloved Queen.
Sorry if this isnt the place, but does anyone lose their jobs with the change do we know?
The King must already have his Private Secretary, so what happens to the person who was the Queens Private Secretary?
I know someone who's part of her police protection squad. I'm not 100% sure but I think Charles has his own team looking after him so he'll probably have to be redeployed. @AFKABartram is closer to him than I am so may know more.
As much as I understand the Royal Family have to do so much in public, I find it mental that they have to do a lot of this grieving in the eye of the public. Can’t be easy. Imagine having to know that in such a dark moment, there’s still that element of public display.
Nature will take the Queen back in the recycled system of life and death after the omnipresent monarch has lived a long life in a job she wasn't born into but because of her Uncle Edward's love of a Divorced woman was passed to her father George VI.
George was a shy man who struggled in the public view but the Queen Mother was the strong figure behind him and when he died in middle age the Queen was a young woman in her 20's who with Prince Phillip a few steps behind was a dutiful Queen for 70 years.
The Queen gave the job as the head of the house of Windsor 100% and it's a shock to the system of Royalists and non Royalists to believe that the era is over and ER is over.
I was lucky enough to ‘accompany’ the Queen on four or five of her Royal tours overseas, and in that time I never saw her put a foot wrong.
Wherever she went she would talk to people in the crowds, and never seemed to find it a chore. It must’ve been horrifically repetitive for her, but she was well aware that for the people she was talking to it was a special moment. Even her stock question of ‘have you come far?’ made people feel like she cared, and put them at their ease.
One thing I learned was that she had a wicked sense of humour, and was no fan of pomposity. I suspect that was why the royal family never really took to some of the royal correspondents of the major broadcasters.
Back in the 80s and 90s our coverage of the tours would be edited together and put out as a special program on a Sunday afternoon. They attracted a loyal audience. Viewing figures actually went up in the days of Charles and Diana, although the programme about Andrew and Fergie’s first tour after they married that I covered was less popular.
After the death of Diana, interest seemed to wane a little, and ITV eventually abandoned those special programmes I believe.
One thing is for sure, the Queen will be a very tough act to follow, as she was was loved by very many people, and almost universally respected.
Who was it who said this won't touch many people outside of our country again?! Its the biggest news story in every country around the world - THAT is what the Queen and the Royal Family mean to our country.
As much as I understand the Royal Family have to do so much in public, I find it mental that they have to do a lot of this grieving in the eye of the public. Can’t be easy. Imagine having to know that in such a dark moment, there’s still that element of public display.
Weddings, christenings and funerals, are all part of the emotional roller coaster for Royal watchers.
Two young boys walking in front of the Hearst when their Mother died is part of the soap opera of having a Royal family. Harry has never come to terms with the scenario that Royalty like Hollywood stars can't dictate when the camera are useful and when they are an intrusion.
Harry felt it was cruel when he was put in the spotlight at such a young age. William the next to go has a better relationship now with the press since Harry and Megan are persona non Grata and the bad guys with mainly the right wing press who if you are not compliant will go for you big time.
The dynamics will change now as King Charles will not suddenly become mute where the Queen would talk only to her inner circle.
Took a stroll over to Buckingham Palace on my lunch break today. It was quite a nice, bubbly atmosphere but everyone was very respectful with it. When the gun salutes started in the distance everyone went completely silent. I'm not a royalist by any stretch of the imagination but it was a very poignant moment and I stood there and tried to take in how I will probably remember that for the rest of my life.
Who was it who said this won't touch many people outside of our country again?! Its the biggest news story in every country around the world - THAT is what the Queen and the Royal Family mean to our country.
I think it was non-descript wum who was likely fishing for a bite.
Who was it who said this won't touch many people outside of our country again?! Its the biggest news story in every country around the world - THAT is what the Queen and the Royal Family mean to our country.
I'm in France right now ......; and French TV and radio are providing blanket coverage. It's a huge news and discussion point here.
Sorry if this isnt the place, but does anyone lose their jobs with the change do we know?
The King must already have his Private Secretary, so what happens to the person who was the Queens Private Secretary?
I know someone who's part of her police protection squad. I'm not 100% sure but I think Charles has his own team looking after him so he'll probably have to be redeployed. @AFKABartram is closer to him than I am so may know more.
Rip the queen, amazing woman. Very sad news (and also not a royalist).
for me, the best thing Charles could do now, for the monarchy, is to abdicate and hand over to William. Clearly wont happen.
Charles has been meeting the crowds outside Buckingham Palace, I think he is going to be a very good Monarch. It will be different, but there is no reason for him to abdicate in favour of Prince William. The King will have the same sense of duty as his mother
Lots of coverage and interest here in Spain too and there were even TV crews and journalists outside our (British) school this morning asking for comments and reactions from staff and students. The sense of a sad but also historic moment is definitely not just in the UK.
Lovely to see so many people from minorities in the crowd at buck house, despite some wums in certain parts of the media trying to push the narrative she was a “colonizer”. Listening to the US Ambassador on BBC now and hearing anecdotes from other countries, proves she was a Global icon. Even Trump liked her ffs!
Comments
It must be lovely being born to privilege, but it must be horrible not being able to live a completely normal life too.
The King must already have his Private Secretary, so what happens to the person who was the Queens Private Secretary?
This strong, resilient & ever present lady appeared so very frail outwardly, yet continued to fulfill her duties as resiliently & wholeheartedly as she had always done. On reflection, I have to wonder how poorly she was feeling underneath that unchanging countenance.
As the evening progressed, I found myself reaching for the tissues time & time again, without, seemingly, anything in particular precipitating said tears.
It wasn't until past midnight, as, in bed, I read the usual dozen or so pages of my current book before turning off the light, I "allowed" myself to acknowledge that I was resurrecting the death of my old Mum almost 7 years ago at the age of 95.....and although Mum was almost 6 feet tall, she had the same silvery hair & the same demeanour as our Monarch.
Whether it was the realisation that I hadn't mourned this very special lady properly together with memories of failing to spend enough time with her in those later years, I know not. But shallowly buried feelings of guilt were brought crashing into focus as I was forced to confront them and the flood gates opened. And the realisation that I am barely 20 short years away from this unenviable position should I have similar longevity. A sobering thought indeed.
Then, as if "someone up there" was reading my mind, there was a peal of thunder, the heavens opened & torrential rain bucketed down all around the house, and seemingly brought me back to reality and time to admonish myself for being a silly old c*w ..... not for the first or the last time.
And, looking back to that night, it was as though that downpour epitomised all the tears of an adoring & grateful nation at the loss of their beloved Queen.
What did Charlie boy call you KBslittlesis ? 🤔😀
Can’t think of any other type of role like it in the world.
Good luck to him.
It will certainly take a while for him to get used to this new position.
He probably feels in the same way as Triple H!
George was a shy man who struggled in the public view but the Queen Mother was the strong figure behind him and when he died in middle age the Queen was a young woman in her 20's who with Prince Phillip a few steps behind was a dutiful Queen for 70 years.
The Queen gave the job as the head of the house of Windsor 100% and it's a shock to the system of Royalists and non Royalists to believe that the era is over and ER is over.
Nature bless the Queen.
A very touching tribute from our nearest neighbours.
The Queen was globally so admired and respected.
Weddings, christenings and funerals, are all part of the emotional roller coaster for Royal watchers.
Two young boys walking in front of the Hearst when their Mother died is part of the soap opera of having a Royal family. Harry has never come to terms with the scenario that Royalty like Hollywood stars can't dictate when the camera are useful and when they are an intrusion.
Harry felt it was cruel when he was put in the spotlight at such a young age. William the next to go has a better relationship now with the press since Harry and Megan are persona non Grata and the bad guys with mainly the right wing press who if you are not compliant will go for you big time.
The dynamics will change now as King Charles will not suddenly become mute where the Queen would talk only to her inner circle.
It's a huge news and discussion point here.
And very respectful, I might add.
She truly touched a nation and the world and seemingly me too.
RIP.