The Press in London | “We just lost our grandma”

(London) Monarchists can be reassured, the Queen’s legacy is in good hands.

Jean-Christophe Laurence
The Press

For his first address to the nation, delivered 24 hours after the death of Elizabeth II, King Charles III delivered a flawless speech, as solemn as it was controlled.

Black jacket and black tie, he spoke for about ten minutes on British television, in a pre-recorded video, sitting at a desk in front of a photo of his mother.

With a serious face, he pledged to uphold the principles of the monarchy and the Anglican Church (“Our values ​​have remained and must remain constant”) and officially ceded the title of Prince of Wales to his son William, who will one day succeed him on the throne.

On a more personal note, he thanked his “darling mum” for her devotion to the crown and expressed his “love” to his son Harry and his wife Meghan, who now live on the fringes of the royal family.

In the favorite pub of The Press, you could hear the flies flying. Prince Charles may not have been as popular as his mother, but everyone was curious to hear from the new monarch, aware that he was witnessing a historic moment.

Apart from the usual (“I never liked him anyway”) criticisms mostly related to the Diana trauma, the verdict seemed quite positive.

“The tone was right. It felt good. Touching. He didn’t get us used to that when he was a prince,” remarks Donna Balsdon.

Sitting at two tables, Hugh Mandy had much the same words: “He said what we wanted to hear about continuity. He said it with emotion. It wasn’t easy, so soon after her mother’s death. »

Between the past and the future

The speech concluded a feverish day.

For the first time in 70 years, the United Kingdom woke up on Friday without Queen Elizabeth II, who was believed to be almost immortal. In a country where most of the inhabitants have known only her as sovereign, this departure leaves a great void and millions of Britons almost orphans.

In London, there was something quirky in the air, even though life seemed to be going on.

The rain that fell at noon added to this funny atmosphere. Londoners walked slowly on the wet pavement, looking like they were reflecting on the page of history that has just been turned, and which will result in a 10-day national mourning.

Thousands also converged on Buckingham Palace to welcome the new king and pay homage to the late sovereign.

There was sadness in front of the gates of the castle, but the atmosphere was not heavy, rather calm and collected. Everyone expected the queen to leave. There was no shock or surprise, just the acceptance that death is part of life. “She was a very old lady,” simply summarizes Hugh Black, a Canadian from Kingston met a few meters from the entrance.

“A historic moment”

When it started to rain, hundreds of umbrellas opened at the same time. Impression of a carefully prepared staging for the final episode of The Crown. At the top of the castle, the British flag was at half mast.

The bobbies then dispersed the crowd to let through a detachment of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, en route to Hyde Park. At 1 p.m. sharp, this ceremonial regiment rang the cannons 96 times, a royal tradition aimed at recalling the age of a monarch at the time of his death.

Then the curious took possession of the street, to “pay homage” and “show respect” to the one who was so long a symbol of the United Kingdom, a unifying image and a guarantee of stability in a world in perpetual change.

We laid wreaths of flowers, we photographed ourselves in front of the gates, to prove that we were there. We wore the queen’s pop art or Bowie-period-Ziggy t-shirts, as if Elizabeth II had been a rock star in her own right. Strange contrast with the austerity of the character, even if it had become a true icon of popular culture, in the same way as Gandhi or Che Guevara.

“It’s really a historic moment, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” says Rob Stokoe, British flag around his neck. We just lost our grandma. »

Login

The idea of ​​“family” often came up on Friday, among admirers of the queen. Even if she was miles away from their reality, and she never delivered the bottom of her thoughts on any subject whatsoever, many Britons felt close to Elizabeth. “We belonged to her family and she to ours,” summarizes Harry McDonald, phlegmatic, under his raincoat.

His lack of positions may have helped to strengthen this relationship. Elizabeth II was the white screen on which everyone could project themselves, outside of any political debate. She was a figure of consensus, floating above the fray. A point of reference for everyone.

“I identified with her squarely,” said Maisie McNeice, who is on her second visit to Buckingham Palace in 24 hours. She was an old lady, adorable and dignified. I’m such a groupie, I almost drove 9 hours to see her in Scotland. And count on me, I’ll wait 24 hours in line to see her at Westminster Hall if I have to. »

Finish the job

For many, Elizabeth II was also the queen of an (almost) faultless run until her death.

The Queen had health issues and never really recovered from Prince Philip’s death. But she held out until her platinum jubilee and even the appointment of new Prime Minister Liz Truss, the 15^e no one in that position under her reign, whom she met no later than Tuesday, hours before news of her death was announced.

Apparently she wanted to finish the job before she left us for good. Another proof of his incredible dedication to duty.

“It’s the end of an era,” concludes Sandra McDonald, 81. It makes me sad, but I have no regrets. She gave everything for her country. And all my life, she made me happy…”