Since the death of our dear Monarch was announced, it has been an unsettling time. The loss of the Queen was a shock to many, even if you had never met her in person. Many a tear was shed after hearing the news. At the other end of the spectrum, some were left fearing the amount of Royal coverage that would take over the TV for the foreseeable future. How would they endure it without going slightly crazy?
The country officially went into ten days of mourning. Although daily life had to continue for most, the period of mourning was almost impossible to ignore, with continual updates on TV and radio. BBC1 became a 24-hour Royal news station. Many wondered why there there had to be ten days of mourning. There were lots of questions about the mourning period, something that hasn’t been experienced since Princess Diana died in 1997 and not for a reigning monarch in most peoples lifetimes.
The official events soon got underway. The accession of King Charles III. The Queens coffin moving from Balmoral to Edinburgh. Then the journey to London. The Queen lying in state. The vigils by the Royal family. The King visiting all four corners of the UK. There was something happening on a daily basis.
It was almost fitting that the Queen passed in Scotland. It gave those in Scotland a chance to pay their respects in their own capital, rather than having to travel to London to see Queen. There was a huge number of people on the streets and it showed the Queen was just as highly thought of in Scotland as she is in England. It’s also blown a huge hole in Nicola Sturgeons plans for Indyref2. No wonder she looked so miffed the whole time.
When the Queen arrived in London, you could almost feel the tension in the air. People were willing to queue indefinitely to see her lying in state. With queue times running up to twenty hours, it really was an endurance test. Standing on the banks of the River Thames in the middle of the night is not enjoyable when you cannot feel your fingers. Or toes. Or anything really!
But there was a spirit of camaraderie, that you were not doing it alone. And there was always the chance that you might see a celebrity or two just passing through! Those who did make it were grateful to be able to pay their respects, although they suffered as a result, with stiff joints, painful backs and exhaustion.
Many who chose not queue for hours, decided to leave flowers or travelled to London to view the floral tributes in Green Park. It was quite an incredible spectacle. They were then able to visit Buckingham Palace or take a walk down the Mall, whilst hoping to catch a glimpse of a passing Royal. London was like you have never seen it before. There was a buzz in the air. There were also a large number of metal barriers making it virtually impossible to get anywhere near where you actually wanted to go.
Despite all of this, many friendships were forged. Those standing in the queue or on the Mall were able to share their experience with strangers standing next to them. It gave people an opportunity to talk to others, to bond and communicate, which is highly unusual for London. There was a strange mix of emotions, with the sadness of losing our Queen, mixed with the celebration of our new King. There really was a sense of togetherness and being a part of an historically important time.
The day of the funeral itself was a day like no other. For one, there was hardly a soul on the roads. It was so incredibly quiet. People either decided to stay in and watch the funeral, or realised that everywhere was closed so there was literally no point in going out. You could almost be forgiven for thinking that Center Parcs had closed for the day!
Either way, it was a time to spectate and savour it all, take a breath and reflect on ones own mortality. A chance to slow down and think about loved ones, family and friends, so that when the world returns to normal, we can make the most of our lives.
Whether you agree with ten days of mourning or not, it simply had an affect on all of us. No matter if you took time to think about your own life or if you shared the experience with a stranger or had a conversation with a neighbour, there was an impact on every single one of us that brought us closer. Which perhaps answers the question as to why we were all given such a period of mourning in the first place.
