Elizabeth couldn’t outlive Charles, as she had hoped she might. RIP to the longest monarch in British history, but he will be a terrible king. He didn’t inherit the steel in her spine.
[Update a while later]
I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the first meeting between Charles and the new PM when she tells him she’s going to allow fracking.
[Update early evening]
An American remembrance of the Queen.
It is entirely possible to find her admirable without being a fan of the monarchy. She was a steadfast woman foremost of duty, but she greatly enjoyed life, and people, as well.
[Friday-morning update]
When it comes to not making controversial statements, it will be hard for Charles to follow his mother. When it comes to lunacy on climate, he’s the Al Gore of the UK.
The end of an era, and the end of the life of a truly remarkable woman. My condolences to her family, and her peoples.
Ave Atque Vale
And now the place formerly called Great Britain has an idiot on the throne, and a horse in the royal bedchamber.
Apres moi, le deluge?
I feel that at long last the British Empire has come to an end.
She was the only good royal, at least as far as we know because if she held views like her offspring, she had the good sense not to talk about them in public.
Not the only good royal. The Queen Mum was a hoot! And fairly formidable in her own way.
I feel that at long last the British Empire has come to an end.
Make the UK Great Again? MUKGA?
In the meantime, my condolences to the House of Windsor. A life well lived, may she rest in peace.
Actually, Truss lifted the ban on fracking the first day in office. Already done. The parliamentary system allows a PM with a majority to do things very quickly. This has been both good and bad at various times in history.
As for Charles III, I suspect that his reign will be fairly short. He has often commented favorably on the example set by European monarchs who abdicated early to give their kids a chance to reign before they get as old as he did.
“He has often commented favorably on the example set by European monarchs who abdicated early to give their kids a chance to reign before they get as old as he did.”
That was when he wanted to be King.
Yep. I expect his views will undergo a sudden revision.
And they have: He’s been quoted as saying he’s in it for as long as he’s got.
He’s 74 already. I doubt he has enough years in him to make it a problem for his children.
Yeah. Now, he’s had time for sober, mature reflection….
And decided that it’s GOOD to be the King!
“As for Charles III, I suspect that his reign will be fairly short.”
Don’t know much about his state of health but he looks older than his 73 years and rather frail; doubt if he will last 15 yrs in the job.
King Charles will do wonders for the Australian Republican movement.
24-48 hour rule on CIII, at least.
If Chuck3 would identify as a woman, it would save the UK gov’t the all that expense of changing signs and documents and offices and such from saying “Her” to “His” and “Queen” to “King”. And it would be “carbon neutral”, too.
“Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold
https://youtu.be/DelhLppPSxY
On July 6th 1976, Queen Elizabeth presented a Bicentennial Bell to the United States in Philadelphia. At the presentation ceremony, she made the following remarks:
I speak to you as the direct descendant of King George III. He was the last Crowned Sovereign to rule in this country, and it is therefore with a particular personal interest that I view those events which took place 200 years ago.
It seems to me that Independence Day, the Fourth of July, should be celebrated as much in Britain as in America. Not in rejoicing at the separation of the American Colonies from the British Crown but in sincere gratitude to the Founding Fathers of this great Republic for having taught Britain a very valuable lesson.
We lost the American colonies because we lacked that statesmanship “to know the right time, and the manner of yielding, what is impossible to keep.”
But the lesson was learned. In the next century and a half we kept more closely to the principles of Magna Carta which have been the common heritage of both our countries.
We learned to respect the right of others to govern themselves in their own ways. This was the outcome of experience learned the hard way in 1776. Without that great act in the cause of liberty performed in Independence Hall two hundred years ago, we could never have transformed an Empire into a Commonwealth!
Ultimately peace brought a renewal of friendship which has continued and grown over the years and has played a vital part in world affairs. Together we have fought in two world wars in the defence of our common heritage of freedom. Together we have striven to keep the peace so dearly won. Together, as friends and allies, we can face the uncertainties of the future, and this is something for which we in Britain can also celebrate the Fourth of July.
This morning I saw the famous Liberty Bell. It came here over 200 years ago when Philadelphia, after London, was the largest English speaking city in the world. It was cast to commemorate the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges, but is better known for its association with the Declaration of Independence.
Today, to mark the 200th anniversary of that declaration, it gives me the greatest pleasure, on behalf of the British people, to present a new bell to the people of the United States of America. It comes from the same foundry as the Liberty Bell, but written on the side of the Bicentennial Bell are the words “Let Freedom Ring”.
It is a message in which both our people can join and which I hope will be heard around the world for centuries to come.
I wish Americans still felt this way.
Amen to that!
Elizabeth couldn’t outlive Charles, as she had hoped she might.
Is that fact or just your opinion? It doesn’t sound like anything the queen would say even in private and even if she felt that way. Charles certainly had his faults but they’re not anywhere near the level that would make his mother wish that he were dead. A death of a child is something no parent would wish to go through.
It was a lot of peoples’ opinions, rumored for decades. She reportedly really didn’t consider him to be the best choice, and would have much preferred William.
“Charles certainly had his faults ”
Has*
The problem is that Charles is a loon.
I consider QE II to be the most likeable mother-in-law ever.
If she ever tried to tell me what to do, I would not like that.
She will be a tough act to follow. But now that he has to think before he acts and speaks, perhaps King Charles will finally grow up?
It’s still early days, but if Chuck’s speech today is anything to go by, we all might be pleasantly surprised.
Notice that we have a new Prince of Wales, but not yet a new Duke of York. Sadly, the existing one can’t live up to old Berty’s standard.