RIP Queen Elizabeth II

[ffutures]

I think most people guessed this might be coming, she hasn't looked well since the Duke of Edinburgh died. She's been on the throne my entire life, though the actual coronation was when I was four months old. I've never actually met her or as far as I know seen her in person, but that's mostly me not liking crowds much. She's had a huge impact on Britain for the last seventy years, and I'm not sure what things will look like now she's gone.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886

You'll notice that they're already referring to Charles as the King. No guarantee that he'll use that name on the throne, he might go with something else.

Things that we can expect:
Nothing much else on the TV or in the papers for the next week or two.
New currency eventually - the Queen's head is on everything.
Ditto stamps, which means that the timing of the rollout of new 1st and 2nd class stamps earlier this year was a bit unfortunate.
Huge arguments about the succession, becoming a republic, etc. despite Charles already being considered the King.

Comments

[dewline]

In Canada, she's on the $20 bill, as well as all the remaining coin denominations in circulation. That will be changing, too, I expect. Stamps from Canada Post, likewise expected to change, as well as all the civil service oaths of loyalty.

[ffutures]

These things don't happen overnight - I'd imagine a few months at least before the first coins etc. are released, longer for notes because the security features are more complicated - they won't suddenly pull everything, it'll be a gradual change as notes and coins wear out etc.

[errolwi]

There is also only so much currency production capacity in the world.

[susanreads]

Not just TV: BBC radio is also wall-to-wall "news special". They appear to have cancelled a Prom! What an insult to the Philadelphia Orchestra and everyone else involved. They'd better not cancel their second Prom tomorrow! /looking at the world through own interests

Have they learned nothing from the reaction to having the same thing on BBC1 and 2 all day when Philip died? I swear it wasn't just me.

(If there's more than one copy of this it's because I keep getting a 403 page)

[ffutures]

Very glad I don't watch much TV these days. Sorry to hear about the prom - it must be hugely annoying for everyone involved.

[susanreads]

I'm sure there were people already en route, who'd booked accommodation as well as the actual tickets. And an orchestra from the other side of an ocean, who'd done all the prep work, for concerts they won't get to perform! ... I acknowledge these are First World problems.

[gillo]

The Last Night on Saturday has been cancelled. I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow's goes too.

And it's not Philip or the Queen Mum. It really is epoch-ending. I doubt if there will be much "normal" media tomorrow.

[history_monk]

Radio 3 seems back to normal this morning. The Last Night is presumably cancelled because it's a bit too festive for a period of mourning.

Today's cricket is cancelled, but Saturday's is due to proceed as normal.

[dormouse1953]

Radio 3 wasn't doing the scheduled programmes, only stuff connected to the queen and her predecessors. No record review this morning and it looks like no Music Matters at lunchtime.

[coth]

Charles has confirmed Charles III as his regnant name. I suspect he's following Liz in keeping his own baptismal name, but the historical associations (Jacobitism, slavery, autocracy) are unfortunate.

I doubt very much there will be much UK republicanism - the political timing here favours Charles. The Commonwealth however is rife with possibility.

I saw her once in person when she visited Valentines Park to open the dry garden.
https://flic.kr/p/bGWcma

[ffutures]

Not to mention the spaniels.

[dormouse1953]

She visited my home town back in 1960. I remember the whole school was shepherded to the main road through the town to watch her go past. It was sunny, I recall. Still have the programme for the visit. Found it in my father's house after he died.

Funny story I heard. It was traditional that when the queen visited a town, she'd visit a residential house on the town and meet the occupants. The house chosen was that of the local Punch and Judy man. He was also the secretary of the local communist party. (He had the only public address system on the town that could be fitted to a car and my father was in the local Labour Party and they borrowed it every election.