The End of an Era
Queen Elizabeth II of England died peacefully today, September 8, 2022. The British Prime Minister was notified of the Queen’s death at 4:30 PM British time. She was 96 years old. She was staying at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland. She ascended to the throne in 1952. She was England’s longest reigning monarch. Earlier in the day, her doctors announced they were concerned for her health, and her immediate family began arriving at Balmoral to be with her. After the news of her death spread, people began congregating outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, many bringing flowers.
When I heard on the TV the announcement that she was dead, I cried. I found my reaction curious — after all, I am not British but American. I am not a citizen of a Commonwealth country. When I traveled to London on my way to Paris in 1974, it was only for a stopover in Heathhrow Airport. The only places that I have seen pictures of the Queen are in books, newspapers, magazines, and film, or on the World Wide Web and television. I have never met or even glimpsed the Queen in person.
Yet I cried and am mourning her death as millions of other people are. A portion of my ancestors come from England, Scotland, and Wales. Through the years, I have followed events in the Royal Family. I am fascinated with all the “pomp and circumstance,” and yes, intrigued by the scandals. I watched on TV as Prince William married Kate Middleton and again as William’s brother, Prince Harry, wed Meghan Markle. I was also one of the ”early birds” who got up in the middle of the night to see the fairytale wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Years later, when Princess Diana was tragically killed in an automobile crash, I was heartbroken.
My ”attachment” to Queen Elizabeth II goes back to my childhood. What young girl doesn’t love stories about Princes and Princesses and castles? One day a family member told me that Queen Elizabeth II and I had the same birthday. We were both born on April 21st, albeit in different countries and years. Suddenly she and I had something in common. She became ”personal” to me. She became ”my Queen,” too.
Queen Elizabeth II spent her life in service to her country. She married the love of her life, Prince Philip. Together they had four children, and later several grandchildren. Elizabeth loved her family, dogs, horses, and being in the countryside (nature). She was a hard-working queen, who took her royal duties very seriously. She did not get involved in politics. With her even manner, she gained the respect of leaders and people around the world. Prince Philip’s death in 2021 was hard on her. Her period of grieving was compounded by the isolation imposed due to the corona virus (Covid) pandemic. As in earlier times, her Christian faith sustained her. Despite her increasing age and declining health, she lived as fully as possible, celebrating 70 years on the throne this year. Two days before her death, she fulfilled the customary royal duty of welcoming the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
Rest in Peace. Thank you.
