Queen Elizabeth II

[Slim]

Very unusual that the Palace would issue a notification about the Queen's health. I was surprised to hear that she wasn't able to travel to London for what is her single most important constitutional duty this week.

I'm sorry to say that we may be entering the last days of the Queen's very long stint as our head of state. Will be an absolutely huge news event.

[Slim]

All of the Queen's children are either at Balmoral, or on their way there. Very sombre mood in the news reports.

[David L]

All of the Queen's children are either at Balmoral, or on their way there.

Also Harry and Meghan..........awks 

[Slim]

Tory MPs have been briefed to bring black clothing with them to the House tomorrow. There's some speculation, not from informed sources I should add, that she's already died and the public are being gently prepared for news that has already happened.

Apparently this was common practice when popes died, at one time.

[dom]

Operation London Bridge and Operation Spring Tide...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_London_Bridge#:~:text=Operation%20London%20Bridge%20(also%20known,details%20of%20her%20state%20funeral.

[dom]

Soviet State tv used to play days of ceremonial music whenever one of its leaders died. Probably an improvement on the usual programmes!

[captainkurtz]

I'm ambivalent about the royal family but can't help but love the Queen.

[The Picnic Wasp]

My admiration for the Queen is such that it allows me to block my feelings of resentment with regards to the discrimination which forms part of the foundations of the monarchy. Sad to think that the tense of this post will be incorrect quite soon it would appear.

[Matt2112]

I'm ambivalent about the royal family but can't help but love the Queen.

I'm very anti-royal family but fair play to the Queen, she always had a classy, graceful stoicism and dignity that's sorely lacking further down the lineage.

(Sadly, I had to change the tense of that sentence literally as I wrote it).

[Slim]

Soviet State tv used to play days of ceremonial music whenever one of its leaders died. Probably an improvement on the usual programmes!

Many years ago, some time in the early '80s probably, I had a discussion with my girlfriend's mum about what would happen when the Queen died. I can't even imagine what prompted this conversation, perhaps we thought that she was getting on a bit now she was in her mid 50s.

My girlfriend's mum was adamant that the TV channels (all three, or possibly four of them) would go off the air for 24 hours, or just display an image of the Queen accompanied by funeral music.

I don't think that will happen now but I suppose the death of Philip a couple of .. ah and she's gone.

[pdw1]

It is now official.
God save the King. How strange it will be singing that after so many years.

[Matt2112]

It is now official.
God save the King. How strange it will be singing that after so many years.

Count me out - two authority figures that are, in their own way, both bogus.

[dom]

I'm not a monarchist either but you can only admire the total and absolute commitment she had to the position.

Wonder how the reign of Charles III will go. Certainly won't be as long. He'll almost need to reach his mum's age to even get a Silver Jubilee

[Slim]

That moment when you hear Charles referred to as "the King" on the news for the first time. I genuinely shuddered.

[Nick]

A farewell to Queen... sad day, she's been such a focal point for us.