My family and I have learned, and indeed experienced firsthand, the pride of the British people in their long-standing institutions. As a product of my American upbringing, my culture has been shaped by the markers of pioneering, risk-taking, and at times challenging the status quo—yet I can both acknowledge and sincerely appreciate the perseverance and longsuffering of the British people. I walk through small villages and large cities and see architectural marvels, all older than my home country and preserved for their rich history and heritage. These structures and institutions demonstrate the valuable attributes of patience, perseverance, and longevity quintessential to this great Nation's identity. On September 8, 2022, we lost one of those foundational rock-solid institutions, the Crown, which rested on the longest ruling monarch in British history and the second longest (verifiable) rule in all of history—Queen Elizabeth II. Hardly anyone can remember a time before her ascension such that the title, The Queen, seemed to have always been synonymous with Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor.
As the curtain closes on the second Elizabethan age, a whole nation continues to grieve and reflect on the life of one of the most influential and iconic women in history. Ceremonies, vigils, live broadcast coverage, and formal addresses have occurred all across the UK since the announcement, and many are paying their respects and expressing their condolences. Whatever you may feel about the Brittonic monarchy or the former British Empire, this quiet and often stoic soul with her signature stiff upper lip was indeed a unique and remarkable woman.
She began her rule the same year…
The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series
Car airbags were first invented for driving safety
Anne Frank's "The Diary of a Young Girl" was published in English
Mother Theresa opened the home for the dying and destitute in Calcutta
The first Chevy Corvette prototype was completed
"Singin' In The Rain" premiered at Radio City Music Hall
Her reign spanned 70 years…
14 US Presidents from Truman to Biden (meeting all but Lyndon Johnson)
15 Prime Ministers from Churchill to Truss (born over 100 years apart)
7 Popes from Pius XII to Francis
6 wars, conflicts, or disputes from WWII to Ukraine—she was the first female member of the Royal Family in a thousand years to serve full-time in the armed forces as part of the Auxiliary Territorial Service
She was stability embodied for the British people and the Commonwealth—the fulcrum by which the total weight of their expectations through seven long decades was balanced. Although the King or Queen in a constitutional monarchy has limited power, Elizabeth II acted as an ideological restraint to those who brokered power. The former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said in a recent address in the House of Commons: "in the brilliant and durable bargain of the constitutional monarchy, only she could be trusted to be above any party political or commercial interest and to incarnate, impartially, the very concept and essence of the nation."
Responses and Reactions
You can now send a message of condolence on royal.uk, and "a selection of messages will be passed on to members of the Royal Family, and may be held in the Royal Archives for posterity."
As expected, news outlets worldwide have covered the events leading to her majesty's eventual death. Suppose you find yourself perusing headlines and drifting through social media channels. You will no doubt have encountered…