A good friend and fellow plastic modeler (which is how we know each other) who is a “well-sourced” journalist over there and who over the years has demonstrated he really is “plugged in,” notified me around 0700 Pacific time this morning that Queen Elizabeth was actually dead. It took all this time for The Firm to "get their ducks in order" and make the announcement.
We have enjoyed watching many a show about Elizabeth and have always admired her character, courage and commitment. But for the life of me, I just don't understand the point of a monarchy that is purely ceremonial. I guess that's because I find "ceremony" to be a waste of precious human consciousness and resources. Ye gads. Pomp, circumstance and fancy coaches make me crazy.
That being said, she was quite a woman and it's too bad there isn't another one to succeed her. Most men have not done so well in these roles. May she rest in peace.
Someone made a very important point on BBC this morning while they were getting the public ready to hear the news that the Queen had really already died!
It was this: the word "duty" is usually associated with Elizabeth, and rightly so as she was a woman of long duty. The commentator suggested another word, " humility". By that he meant that she understood the symbolic nature of her role and kept to it. She did not conflate the role with her self and kept her private self as private as possible. She did not act out in public or take on airs but did her work, day after day. In tfg, we had the opposite model-- a leader who conflated the state and his role with his incredibly dysfunctional self.
I am not a monarchist but I will miss this Queen, who has been there for all but 7 years of my life. I do think ,though, that with the end of this Second Elizabethan Era and the final royal link to WWII, the UK is on the cusp of big change in the royal sphere. It will be interesting to watch. Lots of ritual to go through before we get there though! And I join you in sincerely hoping that Charles, as King, will be influential in the urgent work of saving the planet! May Elizabeth rest in peace.
I just finished writing about my own encounter with Elizabeth II in 1967 for my paper- I was five, standing along the road when her motorcade passed about eight feet away and she waved.
I got teary upon seeing the announcement on my phone— I have a deep admiration for her perseverance, her sense of duty and apparently with trusted friends she could be quite funny with imitations of people. I also love her for her obvious love of animals which we share. I think it’s quite hard for us pragmatic Americans to get the monarchy— however, I’m one who love traditions and so I respect their way. It’s worked for Great Britain for such a very long time.
Elizabeth may have been the first qualified mechanic to become British monarch. The parents didn't want her to join the forces, but she persisted and wrung from them their slow leave by laboursome petition and joined the Army, where she trained as a mechanic who could also drive all the vehicles she worked on. Moreoever, she enjoyed wielding the spanner as a royal, rather a rude, mechanical.
Britain was the first modern state to conscript women, who played critical roles throughout the war, but even if she didn't exactly set an "example" there, she demonstrated early that sense of duty that would inform the long course of her reign.
As Shakespeare might have put it: Take a soldier. Take a Queen.
Thanks for this report, TC. It is true that often times, the "highborn" are simply people with some very common interests. I love that story. Aviation is truly a great equalizer.
Thank you. Queen Elizabeth is a very, very special woman and queen. Your essay was personal and just what I wanted to read. She always has such a practical light emanating from herself.
I was a wee lad of about six living In Edinburgh while my dad worked for USIS when Elizabeth was crowned Queen. Everyone decorated their homes. She was the first Queen Elizabeth of Scotland ER I. She was the second Elizabeth Queen of England ER II. The Scots fought over this. They blew up new Post Boxes that had the ER II symbol. I recall our decorations listed no numeral. I will miss her. She was a grounding person during
You were on it, TC! Ahead of the curve. We just found a Reuters announcement online. Otherwise, none of our outlets were reporting her passing. I'm feeling a bit sad. She was a visual governmental presence my entire life.
I’m glad you were the one to break the news to me, TC - with your wonderful personal story. Of course, I’m so naïve I believed the earlier WaPo reports that her doctors were concerned about her and the family was gathering. Her reign is over. God Save the Queen. We move forward with Charles. God Save the King. ❤️🤍💙🇬🇧
I am visiting friends in Endfield, part of Greater London. Dining at a restaurant when the Queen’s passing was announced, the matre d as the room for 5 minutes of silence! Respect! A nation that respects a leader! Refreshing!
What a storied past you have lived. Hobnobbing with the bloody Prince himself. Who would've known, Just came across announcement before I started the ironing. No starch. 😉
I'm not a fan of "royalty" in any form, or the invented privileges that come with it, but I do like your writing. Elizabeth is gone, and maybe she was good, but she was born into an evil social structure.
We have enjoyed watching many a show about Elizabeth and have always admired her character, courage and commitment. But for the life of me, I just don't understand the point of a monarchy that is purely ceremonial. I guess that's because I find "ceremony" to be a waste of precious human consciousness and resources. Ye gads. Pomp, circumstance and fancy coaches make me crazy.
That being said, she was quite a woman and it's too bad there isn't another one to succeed her. Most men have not done so well in these roles. May she rest in peace.
Someone made a very important point on BBC this morning while they were getting the public ready to hear the news that the Queen had really already died!
It was this: the word "duty" is usually associated with Elizabeth, and rightly so as she was a woman of long duty. The commentator suggested another word, " humility". By that he meant that she understood the symbolic nature of her role and kept to it. She did not conflate the role with her self and kept her private self as private as possible. She did not act out in public or take on airs but did her work, day after day. In tfg, we had the opposite model-- a leader who conflated the state and his role with his incredibly dysfunctional self.
I am not a monarchist but I will miss this Queen, who has been there for all but 7 years of my life. I do think ,though, that with the end of this Second Elizabethan Era and the final royal link to WWII, the UK is on the cusp of big change in the royal sphere. It will be interesting to watch. Lots of ritual to go through before we get there though! And I join you in sincerely hoping that Charles, as King, will be influential in the urgent work of saving the planet! May Elizabeth rest in peace.
I just finished writing about my own encounter with Elizabeth II in 1967 for my paper- I was five, standing along the road when her motorcade passed about eight feet away and she waved.
I got teary upon seeing the announcement on my phone— I have a deep admiration for her perseverance, her sense of duty and apparently with trusted friends she could be quite funny with imitations of people. I also love her for her obvious love of animals which we share. I think it’s quite hard for us pragmatic Americans to get the monarchy— however, I’m one who love traditions and so I respect their way. It’s worked for Great Britain for such a very long time.
Great story about Charles.
Elizabeth may have been the first qualified mechanic to become British monarch. The parents didn't want her to join the forces, but she persisted and wrung from them their slow leave by laboursome petition and joined the Army, where she trained as a mechanic who could also drive all the vehicles she worked on. Moreoever, she enjoyed wielding the spanner as a royal, rather a rude, mechanical.
Britain was the first modern state to conscript women, who played critical roles throughout the war, but even if she didn't exactly set an "example" there, she demonstrated early that sense of duty that would inform the long course of her reign.
As Shakespeare might have put it: Take a soldier. Take a Queen.
Thanks for this report, TC. It is true that often times, the "highborn" are simply people with some very common interests. I love that story. Aviation is truly a great equalizer.
Thank you. Queen Elizabeth is a very, very special woman and queen. Your essay was personal and just what I wanted to read. She always has such a practical light emanating from herself.
Godspeed Elizabeth. 👸🏻
I was a wee lad of about six living In Edinburgh while my dad worked for USIS when Elizabeth was crowned Queen. Everyone decorated their homes. She was the first Queen Elizabeth of Scotland ER I. She was the second Elizabeth Queen of England ER II. The Scots fought over this. They blew up new Post Boxes that had the ER II symbol. I recall our decorations listed no numeral. I will miss her. She was a grounding person during
You were on it, TC! Ahead of the curve. We just found a Reuters announcement online. Otherwise, none of our outlets were reporting her passing. I'm feeling a bit sad. She was a visual governmental presence my entire life.
I’m glad you were the one to break the news to me, TC - with your wonderful personal story. Of course, I’m so naïve I believed the earlier WaPo reports that her doctors were concerned about her and the family was gathering. Her reign is over. God Save the Queen. We move forward with Charles. God Save the King. ❤️🤍💙🇬🇧
I am visiting friends in Endfield, part of Greater London. Dining at a restaurant when the Queen’s passing was announced, the matre d as the room for 5 minutes of silence! Respect! A nation that respects a leader! Refreshing!
What a storied past you have lived. Hobnobbing with the bloody Prince himself. Who would've known, Just came across announcement before I started the ironing. No starch. 😉
I'm not a fan of "royalty" in any form, or the invented privileges that come with it, but I do like your writing. Elizabeth is gone, and maybe she was good, but she was born into an evil social structure.