Queen Elizabeth II has died, age 96.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
That’s it. With 26 words, 70 years of service to the United Kingdom’s of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and it’s Commonwealth, comes to an end.
I know my audience is largely made up of the Black community in Britain. I know that most of us come from countries that are still struggling with the consequences of colonialism. I know that the topic of Monarchy is a contentious one in our community, and that many will be feeling a mix of emotions at this news.
But whatever your opinion on the Monarchy, the reality is that for the majority of us, this is the first time we’ve existed in this country without Queen Elizabeth as a stable presence. And a stable presence she has been for the people of this country.
Through the post war rebuild, through recessions, through 15 Prime Ministers, through 70 years of major ups and equally major downs - Queen Elizabeth stood strong and steady. When the country felt volatile, when life felt uncertain, in a world of constant change, and often not for the best, there was one certainty. Elizabeth Windsor is Queen. The calm in the centre of a storm.
I think for a lot of us - regardless of your stance on the Monarchy - we had this almost childlike belief that the Queen was timeless. So much the essence of Britain, held within her. She’d been here as long as we could remember, and she’ll be here as long as we are.
She truly was a Monarch that brought people together. Some of my best memories of Britain are things like the Platinum Jubilee in July this year, the Diamond Jubilee back in 2012, along with the London Olympics. We come together in moments like those, like almost no other. Age, gender, race, politics - it got put aside. In those moments we were just Britons, coming together in celebration.
Queen Elizabeth devoted her life to service, from the day she took the throne, to quite literally her dying day, she believed her duty was to this country. She was dying, and still stood and met the newest Prime Minister in person, only 2 days before she would pass away. That level of devotion and dedication to what she loved and believed in is something that has to be admired. And she did it without complaint - I think if any of us were offered the role she occupied for 70 years, none of us would say yes. To give up your life? Your dreams, aspirations, wants? To never be your first priority again, and to live every day under public global scrutiny? She wasn’t born for this role, but she did it willingly and she did it like none before. And I believe the way she carried herself through it all is something we could all take a little bit of inspiration from as we make our way through this world.
But she wasn’t just Queen, she wasn’t just Head of State. She was Matriarch, she was the head of her family. And in this moment, as sad and as shocked as I feel, and I’m sure many of you feel, my thoughts turn to Charles. How do you process that your mother is gone at the same time you process you are now in the role you were born for? What a deeply painful, difficult, confusing, overwhelming time it must be. For the first time in 73 years, he does not have a parent to turn to. For the first time, 4 siblings exist in this world without their Mum and Dad. Eight Grandchildren have lost their Grandma, 18 months after losing their Grandpa. And whilst they mourn, I wonder if Prince William is now even more acutely aware that one day, he will have to stand in the place of his father, and exactly what that means. What a difficult way to mourn.
Sir Keir Starmer said it very simply. She wasn’t just Queen Elizabeth, she was The Queen. The only Queen. There are monarchies elsewhere around the world, but when people said “The Queen” there was only one person they were talking about.
Our Queen.
The Long Reign has come to a close. Queen Elizabeth, may you rest in peace.