The Queen is dead. Long live the King!

CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod
edited September 2022 in General

Her Majesty the Queen died peacefully earlier today at Balmoral Castle at the age 96. It's come as something of a shock - she seemed to be in good health on Tuesday when she met Boris Johnson and Liz Truss at Balmoral to appoint formally the latter as Prime Minister.

Her eldest son Charles - himself 73 - has therefore become King and has taken the title King Charles III. His wife Camilla becomes Queen Consort. The laws of succession for all fifteen Commonwealth Realms are the same, so he becomes King of all of them including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Charles's eldest son William is now heir to the throne.

The new King arrived at Balmoral today and will remain overnight before returning to London tomorrow. Crowds gathered this evening outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. As a mark of respect a number of sporting events have been cancelled along with a planed railway strike. Arrangements for the funeral and, subsequently, the coronation will be announced in due course.

She was Queen for 70 years. Doing a job she wasn't born to, and never wanted. And, technically, didn't get paid for. Although some members of her family have managed to end up in the papers for the wrong reasons, she herself never put a foot wrong. Her husband of 74 years, Philip, died about 18 months ago.

Feel free to post questions about how all this works. I'm also interested in how this will be reported in the US and other countries.

She truly loved Balmoral, and I think she would have been very happy to go while she was there.

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Comments

  • IsMeArrgghIsMeArrggh

    Wow, may she Rest In Peace. It's pretty well covered in the US as the Royals seem to be big news here and I think most people here have a good impression of her.

  • Ironman294Ironman294

    The Queen was always so classy and regal! She symbolized so much good and tradition. May she Rest In Peace. One hopes Charles can do his best to emulate his mother.

  • CharlieBearCharlieBear Mod

    @CuddleDuncan wow thank you for the write-up!

  • SuperManCuddlesSuperManCuddles

    @CuddleDuncan Thank you for the update! 👑

  • OhioMikeOhioMike

    What an interesting life she had and experienced so much. Condolences to her family .

    It was reported minutes before she passed that there was a beautiful double rainbow 🌈 over Buckingham Palace. So beautiful!

  • [Deleted User]Btown (deleted user)

    Sad to hear of the passing of a world icon.
    Condolences to her family and country.

  • jetblackjetblack

    God save the king, and all oppressed people everywhere.

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    I always admired her class and dignity.

  • SunsetSnugglesSunsetSnuggles

    I was saddened to hear of this, earlier today. Incredible to think she has been queen for my mom's entire existence. Amazing legacy.

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

  • TNNativeTNNative
    edited September 2022

    The national news stations started covering the story this morning when it was announced she would be tended by her doctors. I was not able to see the news again until later in the afternoon central time US and her passing had already been announced by the major news stations. They then stayed on the topic for the majority of the evening. Many here are enamored but the Royal family. I know I have been, and I have a sibling who loves digging into the history of the various lineages even going back to the 1100s. 😳

    May she Rest In Peace.

    Long live the King.

  • KamikaziNinja86KamikaziNinja86

    Its crazy to think that she was Queen that long. The King will only be King for 20ish years before his son takes over.

    I'm curious to know who's the longest living King/Queen of England.

  • dontrememberdontremember

    Queen Victoria lived about 82 years, with 63 years on the throne. Probably Queen Elizabeth II is the record holder in age and reign.

  • Mr_Cuddle_BearMr_Cuddle_Bear

    "Probably Queen Elizabeth II is the record holder in age and reign."

    Yes, she is.

    I'll be interested to see how Charles II's reign goes. QEII commanded a great deal of respect and goodwill that I'm not sure exists to the same extent for her son. I wonder if he will preside over the ending of the Commonwealth.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    These guys called this nearly 40 years ago.

  • BabichevBabichev

    I was shocked when I heard the news since, as you said, only a few days before she seemed just fine.

    My condolences to all who mourn her passing.

    I think she’s getting very good coverage here. I’m having a hard time getting used to hearing “King Charles III” and the little bit of his address that I heard on the radio . . . well, she’s a hard act to follow. I don’t envy him. Will be curious to see what he does now that he’s assumed the throne.

    My only question at this point: I thought I heard his coronation won’t be for some time, wondered why that is? Or maybe I misunderstood.

    My grandmother was a doll maker and made two dolls of Queen Elizabeth II, one of her in her coronation gown and one in her wedding gown. They were exact replicas, sewn by hand. She sent a photo of them to Her Majesty and got a very nice note in return.

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod
    edited September 2022

    The funeral will be quite soon, perhaps a fortnight.

    The Coronation will be ...... I would guess May or June. For the weather. It's a huge event and there are a lot of diaries to coordinate. And then there's the seating plan. You don't want to put Zelensky next to Putin ..... or do you?

    If you write to the Queen/King you always get a reply. Not to reply would be rude.

  • DaringSprinterDaringSprinter
    edited September 2022

    While people can share their sympathy over the Queen passing, attempting to deviate the discussion into sharing political views of her is not allowed. Consider this a warning. [reurbo]

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod
    edited September 2022

    @DaringSprinter what idiots! They demonstrate how damaging an ignorance of history can be.

    A fine woman has died, making us all the poorer, and four children - admittedly grown up - have lost their mother. That's what we are thinking about for the next ten days. We are in mourning.

    Oh, yes, her reign included independence - often achieved with little or no bloodshed - for .... well see the list below.

    I suspect that the Queen technically presided over the greatest de-colonialisation project in history.

    Note that she has no power to do, basically anything. Those who complain that she never said this or apologised for that are merely demonstrating their ignorance. To complain that the British government hasn't done a thing is perfectly fair and reasonable, but to complain that she hasn't is to propose the abandonment of parliamentary democracy and a return to autocracy.

    Let's try to leave the profanity out of this please. ~Shake Scotland was never conquered or colonised by anybody, least of all England. And nobody in Scotland hates the Queen, she was greatly loved.

    PS - still love you! ❤️

    During the Queen's reign...

    Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandates that gained independence

    Sudan
    Ghana
    Malaysia
    Somaliland
    Cyprus
    Nigeria
    Sierra Leone
    Kuwait
    Tanganyika
    Jamaica
    Trinidad & Tobago
    Uganda
    Zanzibar
    Kenya
    Malawi
    Malta
    Zambia
    The Gambia
    Maldives
    Guyana
    Botswana
    Lesotho
    Barbados
    South Yemen
    Nauru
    Mauritius
    Eswatini
    Tonga
    Fiji
    Oman
    Bahrain
    Qatar
    United Arab Emirates
    The Bahamas
    Grenada
    Seychelles
    Solomon Islands
    Tuvalu
    Dominica
    Saint Lucia
    Kiribati
    Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
    Zimbabwe
    Vanuato
    Belize
    Antigua & Barbuda
    Saint Kitts & Nevis
    Brunei

    (Anguilla became independent then returned ... it's complicated)

    Territories that joined another sovereign state rather than becoming independent

    Northern Cameroons
    Southern Cameroons
    British Occupation Zone in Germany
    Hong Kong
    Borneo
    Sarawak
    Singapore (subsequently became independent)

    Independent Dominions that evolved to full independence

    South Africa
    Canada
    Newfoundland
    Australia
    New Zealand

    Colonies that decided to stay colonies following referenda

    Bermuda
    Gibralter
    Falkland Islands

    Territories colonised by the UK during the Queen's reign
    [none]

    Edited for language. [reurbo]

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel
    edited September 2022

    While people can share their sympathy over the Queen passing, attempting to deviate into political topics is not allowed. Consider this a warning. [reurbo]

  • DaringSprinterDaringSprinter

    @CuddleDuncan: I imagine it's difficult being royalty. You end up doing multiple things with consequences so far-reaching that even if you'd only done one of them (taking something that isn't yours, for instance, or torturing people), it would make a certain amount of anger towards you understandable.

    I wouldn't care to be royalty. No, indeed. Even investing becomes a tricky proposition! No, thank you. Being a common citizen has its downsides, but I'd rather that than step into the top place in a standard monarchy.

    I doubt most of the people reacting around the world, mourners or celebrators, knew her as a person. It's the death of an image they're responding to. A character she helped to develop, no doubt, a social projection she played to perfection—but not a real person. Just the idea of who she was and what she stood for, inside each person's head.

    Those who knew her can mourn her. Everyone else can only respond to the image of her they have in their mind.

    Sad though it is, it's no wonder some aren't mourning.

  • JohnfromViennaJohnfromVienna

    Charles in charge? Oy, I don't know. Should've done Weekend at Bernie's until he croaked. The Prince of Piffle is now the King of Piffle. I'm just glad the only power they have left is to veto Canadian laws.

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod
    edited September 2022

    I've made some edits to my previous post.

    If Andrew had an ounce of sense - and I think we've established that he doesn't - then he would be very nice to his big bother at the moment. And being royalty is a nightmare, for all the perks. I wouldn't fancy it either. I think the Queen relied on four things to get through it. Her sense of duty, her sense of humour, her faith, and her husband.

    Here's a story about the Queen, told by one of her protection officers. There are many stories about her, mostly true as far as I can tell. This one certainly is.

  • DaringSprinterDaringSprinter

    @CuddleDuncan: That is a delightfully funny story.

  • netrunnernetrunner Mod

    Please remember to not make political posts. Discussing the Queen passing is one thing, but keep things respectful.

  • [Deleted User]Redmantale (deleted user)
    edited September 2022

    This is the exact opposite of what was asked above. Regardless of your feelings on Queen Elizabeth, please be respectful of those who wish to grieve in peace. ~Shake49

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod
    edited September 2022

    Thank you, mods.

    The first time I met the Queen was in the early 1980s. My dad was the minister at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh (if you've been a tourist in Edinburgh you've probably been past it, or perhaps even inside) and I, at the age of about 13, held the position of Beadle. (We couldn't get the staff, you see.) This mostly involved carrying the ceremonial mace down the aisle at the start and end of the service.

    The Queen was staying at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is in the parish. Since she was a keen churchgoer, my dad had written to her when the dates of the trip were announced to say that he expected to see her in church on the Sunday. He does things like that. Anyway, she wrote back to say yes of course, what time is the service again?

    He met her at the front door and we formed a small procession with me at the front, them in the middle, and the flunkeys that go with her everywhere at the back. The royal party settled into the front pew and the service otherwise continued precisely as normal except that the place was heaving.

    I passed each service sitting at the front, trying to remember not to pick my nose. From my seat I had an excellent view of the royal pew. Now, there is a universally-believed myth that the Queen never carries money. It is true that she doesn't carry money when doing formal engagements, because these events are intricately choreographed and there is never a chance to pop to the shops. I was curious to see what would happen when it came to the offering.

    The system in that church was the elders passed a collection bag along the pew, collected it at the end then took it to the next pew. You took the bag, put your offering in and then passed the bag to the next person. (One of the perks of having to sit at the front was that you avoided this entire process, which was cheaper than being involved in it.) Before the service the elder whose patch included the royal pew cornered me and asked, should he pass the collection bag along as normal? I thought, and said, " I haven't heard of any instructions, and technically this is a private visit although it is very public. She is here in the capacity of an ordinary member of the congregation, so just do what you would usually do. I'll take responsibility."

    So he did, glancing nervously in my direction. I watched carefully. The question of whether the Queen carries money will now be answered!

    Well, as soon it was time for the offering the Queen dug into her handbag. When the offering bag came to her, she popped a note or notes into it without fuss and passed it along to the row of flunkeys beside her.

    The flunkeys however, being heathens and/or philistines, had spent the previous forty seconds going absolutely nuts. They were scrabbling at pockets, tunnelling into handbags and scouring the lining of coats for any forgotten coin, and distributing between them the few that were found. It was hysterical. The Queen pretended not to notice although I bet she was laughing her head off inside.

    So there you have it. The Queen did carry money when she needed to. The flunkeys did too, when they all came again the next year.

  • TNNativeTNNative

    @CuddleDuncan ... What a wonderful life event. Thank you for sharing. I hope one day to visit Scotland.

  • YourEmbraceMelYourEmbraceMel

    I can’t believe she died on my 40th birthday. 😞 I definitely won’t forget it.

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod

    @YourEmbraceMel that is officially the worst birthday present of all time!

  • YourEmbraceMelYourEmbraceMel

    @CuddleDuncan Yes I thought so too. Just my luck!

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