My first recollection of the Queen was in 1977 at the Silver Jubilee. I was a small child and I remember being somewhat baffled as to why there were tables in our street where cars usually went. There was Punch and Judy (terrifying!) and there was a competition about how many things you could fit into a matchbox. I remember that me and my mum had 13 things. One of the things was an ant. By the time the judges got to count the contents of our matchbox the ant had escaped, and we only had 12 things. If the ant had stayed put, we’d have won. I remain unimpressed by ants.
The first time I appreciated the Queen was the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. I remember watching her and Prince Phillip sat on a boat on the Thames in the pouring rain waving at all the people that had turned up to wish them well (I was watching on TV). I thought that was a rubbish job and they must be really cold and surely for two octogenarians they should be in the warm and dry. I appreciated their sense of duty and showing up for their people.
I do feel uneasy
The monarchy’s role in today’s society sits uneasily with me, steeped in tradition and privilege, yet the Queen has provided strong leadership, stability and commanded huge respect from leaders around the world. Many of the Royal Family support and amplify the work of many charities, work incredibly hard, manage the impact of being constantly in the public eye and take their role in society seriously. Whilst it still sits uneasily, I appreciate the role that they play. And I struggle to reimagine what an alternative or not having a monarchy would be like in reality. Although I did very much enjoy reading The Queen and I by Sue Townsend, about when a Republican party wins the General Election, their first act in power is to strip the royal family of their assets and titles and send them to live on a housing estate in the Midlands.
I was more upset than I thought I would be when I heard that the Queen had passed away. I was cooking dinner and the radio song cut abruptly and I thought ‘oh no this is it’. Then there was the announcement that Queen Elizabeth had died. Then the national anthem played. Then I had a little weep.
Does anyone else feel emotional when they hear the National Anthem?
Where had that come from? I find listening to the National Anthem really emotional. Does anyone else feel that too?
On reflection, I do think Elizabeth II was an incredible woman. She took on a leadership role, that she didn’t expect or ask for at a young age. Her unwavering sense of her duty and to serve her people has to be admired. When she first came into power she must have met so many challenges because she was a woman. If we consider the inequalities now, imagine how much more marked they would have been 70 years ago. She just got on with the job.
She provided consistent leadership, stability and wise counsel for 70 years. She appointed 15 Prime Ministers! Not to mention the impact her support has had on so many charities.
She did everything with integrity, which has been particularly noticeable over more recent times.
She was a true professional with a great sense of humour and it’s no surprise how loved, admired and respected she was by so many.
Her death is a significant end of an era in my life, as far as I’m concerned Queen Elizabeth was original girl power.
I’ve been surprised at how I’ve been glued to scrolling through the same images and stories on social media, watching the news on repeat, unexpectedly bursting into tears and being unable to concentrate properly on anything else. It must be some sort of shock response – not just about the Queen passing away but the significance of what that means for the world.
It is the end of an era. Change is inevitable, unsettling and uncomfortable. We have lost a feeling of stability. There are also many small signals and symbols to Queen Elizabeth that go unnoticed. Will the stamps I bought last week be valid? Will the post boxes have to be changed? Our money will now have a picture of King Charles on. We’ll now sing God save the King.
Anyway, she’d tell us all that life must go on and that we must do our best. Just as I believe she did.
I’d love to know your memories, reflections and thoughts.