Yesterday at around 6.30pm (UK) the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced by Buckingham Palace. A blacked edged frame was fastened to the gates of the iconic palace in London, it read: “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.”
Catholics in the U.K. paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death Sept. 8 and the end of a reign that lasted more than 70 years. Pope Francis sent a telegram addressed “To His Majesty the King, Charles III,” her son who immediately ascended to the throne. “I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late queen’s eternal rest and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises”.
This followed after an long afternoon of deep concern across the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and the world after an earlier statement at around 12pm (UK) from the palace which announced the record breaking and much loved Monarch was under ‘medical supervision’ after concerns for her health had been raised. Despite reassuring yet loosely put words that Her Majesty was ‘comfortable’ and ‘told to rest’.
Her Majesty was photographed just 48 hours previously at her Balmoral Estate when she met the newly elected Conservative Leader and Prime Minister Liz Truss. Many people noticed that the Queen had become much noticeably frail and thinner in size which sparked conversation. Before the statement from Buckingham Palace about the Queens health it was noted by the media that she had missed a Privy Council meeting in which ministers and the new Prime Ministers cabinet are sworn in, which is much unlike the Queen such was her dedication to service and public duty for over 70 years.
This year saw the Platinum Jubilee celebrated in the UK for The Queens 70 year reign. A reign that she was never expected to have. In 1936, King Edward VIII changed Elizabeth’s life forever when he abdicated the throne which put Elizabeth’s Father, King George VI on the throne instead. At 10 years old, Elizabeth was the immediate heir to the throne and immediately educated and prepared for a long life of Royal Duties and always in the knowledge that one day she would be Queen. King George VI was well loved by the nation after being Monarch throughout the Second World War and was deeply admired by his daughter who learnt so much from him. On the 6th February 1952 the King died and Elizabeth became Queen and was crowned at the coronation at just 27 and so begun a new Elizabethan Age.
The Queen has been a constant for the country and indeed the world. That throughout political and social change, wars, modernism and growing secularism she managed to keep the ship steady. Offering many wise words and words of comfort during trials even as recently as the lockdown in 2020 in which she gave a national address. She was also honest about trials she faced and her family, which made the Queen feel even more human and not quite so distant. Former Prime Ministers and World Leaders have poured in tributes and noted just how much of a special person she was and how they could convey emotions and worries to her, in the knowledge that it would go no further. Although the Queen must remain neutral on political matters she had a deep interest in current affairs and meticulously poured through her daily correspondence.
Queen Elizabeth took her duty very seriously from a young age and promised her duty to our service, no matter how long or short her life was to be. This was firmly grounded in a deep and personal Christian Faith. Always noting in Christmas Speeches, Easter Messages and National Crisis’ of how her faith in Jesus was what she drew strength from. A deeply devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother family was very much her other cornerstone born out of true Christian love. She was patron of many hundreds of charities and her warmth and friendship in greeting millions of strangers both elite and deeply poor was incredible. In her life, she met many religious leaders including 5 Popes and loved learning about other faiths.
It was also her desire to heal divisions and to bring about reconciliation which stemmed from her Christian faith. One of the most incredible moments came when the Queen shook hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in 2012, in a historic gesture marking a giant step forward in the peace process relating to British rule of Northern Ireland. The handshake came 14 years after the end of a conflict that claimed about 3,500 lives, including that of the queen’s cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten in an IRA bombing.
As the country mourns here in the UK and as condolences pour in from across the world. The sun is setting on this Elizabethan age. King Charles III is now Monarch, and it seems that the monarchy may become a lot different than to what we had all become accustom too. Many seem to think that conversations may have to be had about the future, but that isn’t for now. People either lovers of the institution or not are right now feeling a deep sense of loss and others didn’t expect to feel so much emotion about this news. However as Queen Elizabeth said “Grief is the price we pay for love.”.
Eternal Rest Be Unto Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
God Save The King!
