The passing of Her Majesty is a monumental one, not only in British history, but in international history. For most people, no one has ever seen the death of the most powerful monarchy in world history. Elizabeth, who took the throne at 25 when George VI died suddenly, was a force for the country of which she served her life. A woman her served her country's military. She was a force for feminism, for 70 years, the most powerful woman in the civilized society. At the same time, she was the person who you saw the queen and yet, just saw another person. She was never full of herself. She always acted like just another person. People loved her for that. Now that she has passed on, we have no idea what the future will be in the monarchy, for King Charles III has been waiting a very long time. Not very often a 73 year old is the one who takes the throne. From the death of Diana, to Camilla to Meghan, Elizabeth II was the steadying force that held the monarchy together.
Of more interest to this community, we know she was a game show watcher. When Sir Richard Whiteley was knighted, it was made known that she was a watcher of Channel 4's Countdown. Not often someone that high is known as a game show fan like the rest of us.
For the next 12 days we will, as people younger than her coronation from 1952, stuff we have never seen as part of the passing of the reigning monarch. The entire United Kingdom and several commonwealth countries will be shut down entirely for mourning. There's also going to be questions of how many commonwealth countries may choose to leave the monarchy now that her majesty has passed. One of those is Canada. Countries will have to reprint all their money for those who had her majesty on the bills and coins.
May she rest in peace. Thank you for your service to your country and the world.
