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Queen Elizabeth II has died

bbc.com

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Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#331

Post by Beltalowda »

saberience wrote: post #71

It's weird, I've never considered myself a "royalist" but this news has affected me quite strongly. I just burst into tears unexpectedly on hearing this news and I don't quite understand why I feel so very sad. I guess I have grown up and lived my whole life (as a Brit) seeing and hearing the Queen, singing "God save the Queen" etc, and this news made me suddenly feel very old, very nostalgic, with the sense that all…

I was reading [1] (from 2017) this afternoon, I guess it came up because the queen was reported as being ill.

"People who are not expecting to cry will cry."

Looks like they were right!

Interesting read by the way which touches on many aspects.

[1]: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/16/what-happens...

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#332

Post by dijit »

Emma_Goldman wrote: post #240

I realise she has just died and it's unbecoming to do anything but laud the person, but this is just moral obsequiousness. She claims fealty by right of blood, reigned as the crown of an extraordinarily cruel empire, and frequently interceded in the democratic government of Britain to protect her private interests.

> reigned as the crown of an extraordinarily cruel empire

Queen Elizabeth presided over its dismantlement. No famines occurred during her reign and no rebellions violently suppressed.

The Empire was cruel, but it's unfair to wash her with the cloth of empire.

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#333

Post by kypro »

As a Brit I'm not a huge fan of the royal family on principle, but Queen Elizabeth has been such an excellent head of state for us you really can't fault her.

People like to make out her life was easy and that it's not fair that she inherited such a privileged position, but I think the exact opposite. Her life seemed like living hell to me. Every day for the last 70 years she's had to serve this largely ungrateful country, and she did so without complaint. Even in her 90s she took her duties extremely seriously, and I respect the hell out of her for that.

It was only a couple of days ago she invited our new PM to Balmoral Castle to form a government. She was clearly looking weak and it's been no secret that she's been struggling to fulfil her duties as Queen for a while, but even just two days before her death at the age of 96 she put on the performance that was expected of her. And she did this practically every day of her life.

RIP. I doubt anyone will ever live up to her legacy. Despite all the problems I have with the royal family, I couldn't feel more pride that she was our Queen.

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#334

Post by ipnon »

deadcore wrote: post #68

As a Brit who's never really "followed" the Royals - I gotta say this makes me sad. The Queen stood for so much, in such a dignified way. May she rest in peace

The Queen is the moral heart of the kingdom. She set an example for us. There remains a feeling that we lost a light to look towards.

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#335

Post by samstave »

PaulHoule wrote: post #184
dijit wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's understandable, she's been a constant vague presence for a lot of British people. It feels like a minor part of our personal history died. I definitely feel saddened, even if I don't have a connection with royalty.

She's also been a moral authority. She avoided the soap opera situations that have dogged the rest of the moral family and frequently she's shown leadership. In WWII she trained as a mechanic so she could do something tangible to support the war effort.

No post body was provided.

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#336

Post by wvenable »

voisin wrote: post #266
Nursie wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently, when I was little, I got excited one Christmas when the Queen’s speech was on tv, because I thought it was my Grandmother… I used to take comfort in the idea that all things pass in time, now not so much. Probably because I realised that includes everyone I love, and myself! I’ve no great love for the monarchy, but this is certainly the end of an era in British public life and likely in UK international r…

> I can’t see the commonwealth nations welcoming King Charles as their new head of state. Well this is precisely what is about to happen. There may be some hand wringing articles in major newspapers about whether the Royal head of state is still relevant, appropriate, blah blah blah, but there is approximately zero chance that anything will change in reaction to this news.

In Canada, it would require changing the constitution and will open the floodgates for more changes. It was hard enough to do that once.

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#338

Post by whoooooo123 »

Emma_Goldman wrote: post #240

I realise she has just died and it's unbecoming to do anything but laud the person, but this is just moral obsequiousness. She claims fealty by right of blood, reigned as the crown of an extraordinarily cruel empire, and frequently interceded in the democratic government of Britain to protect her private interests.

Elizabeth II was the most decolonial monarch in history. Almost all our colonies gained their independence during her reign, and insofar as the empire was "extraordinary cruel", almost all of that cruelty occurred before her reign.

By all means let's have a reasoned discussion about the legacy of the empire, but this is not the place.

Re: Queen Elizabeth II has died

#339

Post by frosted-flakes »

phtrivier wrote: post #277

Thoughts for the family, and all people affectively attached to the monarchy That being said, given the geopolitical situation, I would not want to be responsible for the sitting arrangement of international dignitaires at the funeral. (In a fantasy book, it would be the "perfect" occasion for every one to meet on "sacred ground", observe a truce, and get so drunk that unexpected settlements get found. Sadly, we don'…

Yes, Prime Minister had an amusing bit about that, and how they definitely weren't going to be seated in alphabetical order.
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