Given the sheer gravitas of Queen Elizabeth’s role, and the beloved reputation she boasted around the world, it should come as no great surprise that all manner of stories have emerged in the wake of her passing.
Indeed, the eyes of the world are fixed on the British royal family at the moment, and though the Queen’s son, Charles, has officially been named King, there is much that remains unclear moving forward.
It almost feels strange, talking about Queen Elizabeth in the past tense.
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, she lived her life shrouded in an almost invincible aura. To think that she sat the throne for more than 70 years is truly mind-boggling, but all good things must come to and. Death is a natural part of life, and the no one can say that Elizabeth didn’t live a full and rich life.
As per reports, she died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at her Scottish estate, surrounded by her family members.
Just two days before Her Majesty’s death, the last picture of her alive was taken, and it was clear to all who saw it that not all was right with the Queen’s health.
Queen Elizabeth’s reign saw 15 different prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to the newly-appointed Liz Truss. Her Majesty will be remembered as one of, if not the most, iconic figures in British history.
“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,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
The flag atop Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast at 6:30 p.m. local time, while an official notice announcing the Queen’s death was posted on the gates to the palace, as is tradition.
The Queen’s eldest son and heir, Charles – the former Prince of Wales – has now become King of the United Kingdom and the 14 Commonwealth realms.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” King Charles said in a statement.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
King Charles added: “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
As for the Queen’s burial arrangements, according to reports, she will be interred at the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle. What’s more, the body of her late husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will be moved to joined her there.
Philip, as you may remember, passed last year at the age of 99 – he and Queen Elizabeth had been married for an incredible 73 years.
As per Page Six, the Queen will follow a tradition that has seen her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, as well as her sister, Princess Margaret, buried at King George VI Memorial Chapel.
At the time of writing, the remains of Prince Philip are still at the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel, but they will be moved to lay beside Queen Elizabeth’s when she is laid to rest.
Yet, as sad as the Queen’s passing is – and the loss of such a stalwart figure is, by any measurement, sad – the show, as they say, must go on.
In all likelihood, King Charles’ coronation will not take place for many months, but the transition into a new royal era is already well underway.
Of course, there are so many moving parts in the Buckingham Palace machine that it’s easy to forget about the staff and servants who quite literally keep the place running.
According to heartwarming reports, Queen Elizabeth didn’t neglect them when she knew that her end was in sight. In fact, the Daily Mirror highlight one specific staff member, Angela Kelly, who served as Her Majesty’s personal assistant and dresser, and will be able to continue to live at Windsor despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth is gone.
Kelly is said to have started as an Assistant Dresser at the Royal household, before eventually climbing the ranks and moving into Windsor Castle to help the Queen with her mobility issues during her final months.
As per the Mirror, the pair could often be seen watching television together.
Following the Queen’s death last week, Kelly will reportedly be allowed to stay on in her her ‘grace-and-favor home’ at Windsor. This is due to the Queen’s kindness – the monarch reportedly wanted to reward Kelly for her many years of service.
Staff that worked for the reigning monarch personally are typically given a month’s notice at the end of their reign to find another job, or else be redeployed to another Royal household.
However, the Queen is said to have given her authority for Kelly to stay in her grace-and-favor home after her death.
As per an insider: “The Queen was very clear that she was close to Angela and wanted to look after her people.”
Kelly, 69, is the daughter of a crane driver, and her upbringing was a far cry from that of the Queen’s. Even so, she and Elizabeth were said to chat about “anything and everything”, drinking tea and chatting about their grandchildren.
In an interview with the Telegraph newspaper in 2007, Kelly said: “We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery. We say, ‘Would this piece of jewellery look nice with that outfit?’, and things like that.”
She continued: “I do worry about her and care about her. But we also have a lot of fun together. The Queen has a wicked sense of humour and is a great mimic. She can do all accents – including mine.”
When asked why she was looked upon so favorably by the Queen, Kelly answered honestly: “I don’t know why the Queen seems fond of me – because I don’t give her an easy time! I do think she values my opinion, but she is the one who is in control. She always makes the final decision.”
As per the Daily Mirror, Kelly was of great help the Queen in her final months. When the Queen’s mobility began to wain, Kelly would reportedly sit with her and fill her in on the plot twists of television soap operas.
I don’t know about you, but I’m hardly surprised that the Queen took the time to look out for her most devoted servants before she passed.
We’ll all miss Queen Elizabeth in our own way, but those who were closest to her will certainly have a hole in their lives.
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