Nothing can measure the impact of a person than the way we feel when they pass away. We feel unimaginable grief at the passing of a parent, close family member or lifelong friend, and it is astonishing to think that people feel those same feelings at the passing of someone that they probably never met. Such was the impact of Her Late Majesty. She was the epitome of discretion, humility and grace, and whilst we were honoured to have her as our Head of State for so long, in truth I believe that she felt that the honour was hers in being afforded the privilege of being our Queen, for hers was a life of duty, of sacrifice and of diligent responsibility to be the beacon that we all looked towards in the most challenging times. She never took that duty lightly or casually. That omnipresent figure that bound us all together, providing a link to times gone by, and those people we have sadly lost along the way. People have said “we will never see her like again”. I hope upon hope that we DO see her like again, because we all need that figurehead, that shining light, that ubiquitous inspiration to do all we can in the service of others. Our grief is palpable, the void in our lives both unexpected and painful, and we mourn her loss. May she rest well, reunited with her beloved husband.
God save the King.