On Thursday, 8 September 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. Her son succeeded her; he will be known as His Majesty King Charles III. For me personally, today (Thursday) has been both expected and surprising.
The Queen was 96 years old when she passed away, and had been without her beloved husband for over a year. While you never want someone to pass away, a lot of older people do pass away soon after the death of a spouse, so it is not shocking that she has passed. However, I was not prepared for how fast things would unfold.
In CST here in Canada, the first statement about Her Majesty’s health went out around 6:30 am and we found out about her passing by noon. It is very possible that the statement was not made until later, but compared to Prince Philip’s passing, it was incredibly quick.
The majority of the population has never lived under another monarch. Those who are in their early 70s and older may remember The Queen’s father, King George VI. However, for most of us, we have only had a queen.
I am thankful that she was able to have her Platinum Jubilee celebrations and to appear on the balcony. It was rarer than once in a lifetime event, and she was more than deserving.
The Queen’s Legacy
I think that a lot of people are feeling immense sadness right now, even many who did not expect to. Monarchy is complex, and The Queen held a particularly unique position. I will admit, I was shocked to see some incredibly vitriolic and hateful comments on Twitter, including people of significant standing wishing The Queen to suffer. The shadows of the British Empire and the lasting effects of colonialism are still very much emerging. While I am a monarchist, I believe that a lot of changes need to be made, and that it has played a major role in many horrific events and periods in modern history, I cannot fathom wishing anyone a painful and “agonising” death. There should be space for everyone to process their feelings, whatever they are, but I was not expecting that.
King Charles III
We now look forward to the reign of King Charles III. I for one believe that he will do well and that people should not be conflating a complex personal situation (that both he and Diana played part in) and his role as King. (Yes, I know that many will disagree.) He was the longest-serving Prince of Wales and was dedicated to supporting his mother. His reign will obviously be nowhere as long, but I do think he will dedicate himself to this role, as well.
As an historian, I would recommend writing down your thoughts over the next few days. Not only will historians like me appreciate it in the future, but you and your family will also be able to look back.
