Myself and @SammyJo were so sad to hear about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday evening. We'd heard the news reports just before lunch and then, when we could, followed the BBC until we got home.
She'd been a part of all our lives, from when she first was crowned Queen back in February 1952 up until the present day. The Queen was all we knew. We grew up with her family.
As a head of State she always appeared with dignity and poise, showing interest in others and valuing their contribution to whatever the subject matter was.
A pretty down to earth person - who else, as a leader of a country could star in a scene with James Bond, to aid with the launch of the 2012 Olympics in London, and also star with a cuddly bear in Paddington? Says it all really. A lovely sense of humour.
With foreign visits came promotion of British Industry and companies, something that a lot of people just aren't aware of. Getting the Royal seal of approval was quite a thing.
Myself, well, I had been out at one of those parades to meet the Queen, flag in hand, mere single digit in age, back when she came to Newcastle. I still remember the excitement.
But, back to the present day; both Samantha and I have just felt....lifeless.....after the news. Watching the TV Newsreader shed a tear too. Just sad, sad, sad. That pretty much sums up the nation as I can see.
My children in my school have been tearful too. To them, she's this 'nice grandma' figure that appears on TV and is always a nice lady. Hard for some of them to deal with the passing, so hugs and tears...and passing the tissues all around.
I've been in tears, off and on, all day too.
...and so we undergo 10 Official Days Of Mourning. The very least that we can do for her.
Thanks M'am, for all your service during those 70 years that you had sat at the head of your family on the Throne, and may the gods look over your family.
God bless Charles too. Big shoes to fill, as he knows, as King Charles III
Thank you for your very moving post. We will all miss her. She was part of what it meant to be British, in a way that an elected politician could never be.
