The Queen is dead. Long live the King

At 6:30pm BST, it was announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had died at Balmoral at the age of 96.

I knew something was up and it was serious when I got the BBC News alert that she had been placed under medical supervision. They don’t usually give out medical updates unless it affected her public work. Then, it was announced that the immediate family were flying up to Aberdeen (with the exception of the King and Queen, who were already there). But it was still a shock when the official announcement was made.

This is surreal. Completely surreal. At 44 years old, she was the only monarch I ever knew. Both my parents turn 75 this year (mum at the end of last month, dad in November) and she’s about the only monarch they ever knew. She lived through a lot of change, both in terms of the Commonwealth and in society in general. And now she’s gone.

She lived a life of service. For 70 years, she led the counter and did so by example. Now we have King Charles III (which has been confirmed as his reginal name).

Rest in peace your highness. It’s well earned.

Will