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Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022

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Looks like my Province is saying “No day off for you, but please take a moment from your busy day at work to think about Her Majesty’s life and service”. So much for getting time off to, I don’t know, watch the funeral or attend a service…

Wankers. :cautious:

Unlike National Surfing Day The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation it's a one time thing, so I don't see the big deal....
 
Some shots of Charles visiting 1 PARA in Arctic Norway in the winter of 1985. Wasn’t shy about seeking out the troops for a chin wag, wherever they happened to be serving at the time.
 

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Some shots of Charles visiting 1 PARA in Arctic Norway in the winter of 1985. Wasn’t shy about seeking out the troops for a chin wag, wherever they happened to be serving at the time.
Apparently, when appointed Colonel in Chief, he requested to do P Coy as a regular candidate. No special treatment. He said he wouldn't be able to wear a maroon Beret and be able to look a fellow Para in the face.
 
I am always impressed when I see army drill done well, maybe because I know how badly I sucked at it. Watching the troops carrying that casket and keep in step, knowing the world was watching is stressful enough, but the added weight of the lead and English Oak. A job well done and well deserved beer at the end of the day i hope.
 

Elizabeth II never laid down the heavy weight of the crown​

Britain’s longest-serving monarch died on September 8th, aged 96​



Sep 8th 2022

For the millions who watched on June 2nd 1953—for it was the first time in history that a British coronation had been televised—the most moving part of the ceremony came near the end. It was then that the imperial state crown, encrusted with 2,868 diamonds and weighing more than a kilogram, was placed on the pretty, dark and fragile head of Elizabeth Windsor, proclaiming her, in the eyes of all, Queen Elizabeth II.

For her, though, according to the few people who knew her well, the most charged part of the service had come earlier, in the only part which was not shown. Then, like monarchs before her back to medieval times, she had stripped to a shift behind screens and been anointed with holy oil: a sign that her election came not just from good Hanoverian blood, but from God. It was a reminder that kingship was a holy and permanent duty. And she never forgot it.

Tirelessly, the small and somewhat dumpy figure, with a large handbag and a taste for pastel coats, travelled the country and overseas. She was the target of much gentle mockery for her social chat (“Have you come far?”), her sempiternal gloves and hats and her high, clipped diction, all from another age. With that ribbing went an instinct to protect her, though it was clear, from the level stare and the flashes of dry wit in her speeches, that this was quite unnecessary, thank you. Outrage swept the British press when heedless foreign leaders touched her, Michelle Obama even stroking her back, but she would calmly ignore it. As a result of thousands of little human interactions—posies received, tribal dances watched, buildings opened, ships launched, waves bestowed—the institution of the monarchy burrowed deeper into public affection, at home and in the Commonwealth, in a way that was surprising in the 20th century.

The woman behind it all was revealed only occasionally. There had surely been a much more carefree and relaxed Elizabeth, before in 1936 her father suddenly became king and before, on that sombre February morning in 1952, she had learned that she was now queen. And yet, on second thoughts, perhaps there had never been. Even as a child she had a dutiful look, the responsible elder daughter tending her garden or keeping her fun-loving sister in check. In the war, as a very young woman, she served in the women’s ATS and drove trucks; uniform suited her. The wedding gown for her long and happy marriage to Prince Philip of Greece in 1947 was made by saving up donated clothing coupons. Not long into her reign she sent, on request, a handwritten recipe for buttermilk drop-scones to President Eisenhower. She could just about be imagined actually donning an apron and making them.

Philip’s outspokenness in public suggested that she, too, probably had a merry and waspish tongue in private and some choice political opinions. She did not, of course, express them. Her 15 serving prime ministers, having negotiated the snappish and essential corgis, were all received with equanimity. She was said to have rather liked the dourly humorous Labour leader, Harold Wilson, and, despite several plays claiming the contrary, Margaret Thatcher also. Truly, no one outside her circle knew. The closest she ventured to a political statement came over Scottish independence in 2014, which would have split away the part of the kingdom she seemed, from her summers at Balmoral, to love best; on her way into church there, she warned her northern subjects to be careful.

An explicit admission of sadness came in 1992, when Charles and Diana separated and Windsor Castle, her favourite, was badly damaged by fire: she called it her annus horribilis. An equally trying year was 2019, when a transatlantic sex scandal troubled Prince Andrew and she herself was drawn into the interminable Brexit saga by being advised to approve Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament, an action later ruled illegal. She said nothing, but was widely assumed to be furious that the Crown had been dragged into politics. For decades, until that point, she had kept a studied, necessary detachment, participating only to read, with as little expression as possible, the list of proposed new legislation at each state opening of “my” Parliament.

Instead of deploying any actual power, her role was increasingly to hearten her people. When covid-19 came she encouraged the nation by channelling Vera Lynn, a favourite songster of the second world war; and when Philip, her “strength and stay”, died the next year, she continued her royal duties with barely a break. Not for her a black-veiled internal exile in the style of her great predecessor, Victoria. She had covid-weary subjects to think of.

For relaxation, from the beginning, there were always the races. Her most unaffected joy burst out there whenever her horse won. Horseflesh was her great love; books on horses were said to make up most of her reading, and she was regularly photographed at her country castles riding alone, save for a distantly following security man, in headscarf and Barbour in the rain.

To go on for so long, especially when the heir apparent was ageing fast himself, sometimes seemed curmudgeonly. Increasingly, though, it also looked like an exercise in shrewd management. To be head of “The Firm” would not, perhaps, suit Charles, with his dreamy and alternative ways; it might be safer in other hands. The very notion of the monarchy as a family business, assessing profit and loss and ceaselessly nurturing the brand, would have been unthinkable in other ages. Not so in hers.

This was not all, however. In her last years, especially, her face expressed a determination to continue simply because she had promised before God never to do otherwise. Before her coronation, she got used to the weight of the crown by wearing it at breakfast; in a sense, she never again took it off. On that day in 1953 she was vested with a sacred duty to hold together a country which, in the ensuing decades, became more diverse, fissiparous, irreverent and distracted than it had ever been before. And so she did. ■

Elizabeth II never laid down the heavy weight of the crown
 
In my mind, the British are the masters of ceremony, both military and civil. Serious but not maudlin; professional but not cocky or arrogant. So many of their processes are informed by centuries of history. The one aspect that I noted today was the changing of the vigil at Westminster Hall. No loud commands to detract from the setting, just a pair of loud 'knocks' (something on something) by the guard command on the balcony. No doubt this has been rehearsed a number of times, particularly by the Household Division, but it's different when it comes to the real thing.
 
Found out today that Shared Health has designated Sep 19 as a working holiday, so time-and-a-half, and a banked day for me. Also received an invitation courtesy of the LG to attend the memorial service that evening. Gonna be a busy day.
 
Quite the guest list...

Victoria and George Cross heroes honoured with Queen funeral invites: Iraq war veteran who saved his platoon in rocket fire, RAF ace who sunk Nazi U-boat and retired cop who protected Princess Anne from kidnap​

  • All living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross will be invited to the Queen's funeral
  • Recipients of the VC include an RAF ace who sunk a German U-boat and Iraq War veterans
  • GC holders including ex-police officer who saved Princess Anne from her would-be kidnapper
  • They will join royals and world leaders including US President Joe Biden at Westminster Abbey
  • Russia, Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan have not been invited to the state funeral



 
And the official Canadian participation




Prime Minister announces Canadian delegation to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II​

September 15, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that he and Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser will travel to the United Kingdom on September 16, 2022, to attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will take place in London on September 19, 2022. Prime Minister Trudeau will be accompanied by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

Canada will also be represented by former governors general the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean and the Right Honourable David Johnston, as well as former prime ministers the Right Honourable Kim Campbell, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, the Right Honourable Paul Martin, and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper. They will be joined by Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed, and President of the Métis National Council Cassidy Caron, as well as the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet and former High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Janice Charette, and current High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Honourable Ralph Goodale.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and representatives of regiments of the Canadian Armed Forces will join uniformed personnel from other Commonwealth countries for the service on September 19.

In addition, the Canadian delegation will include members of the Order of Canada Mark Tewksbury, Gregory Charles, and Sandra Oh and Cross of Valour recipient Leslie Arthur Palmer. They will participate in a procession of recipients of national honours as part of the service.

The day of Her Late Majesty’s State Funeral in the United Kingdom will be marked in Canada with a National Day of Mourning and a national commemorative ceremony held at Christ Church Cathedral, the Anglican cathedral in Ottawa. The ceremony will be attended by former prime ministers the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney and the Right Honourable Joe Clark, and all Members of Parliament have been invited. The ceremony will be broadcast live for everyone to watch.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as well as the following regiments of the Canadian Armed Forces will participate in the service:
  • The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
  • The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers
  • The Governor General’s Horse Guards
  • The King’s Own Calgary Regiment
  • Royal 22e Régiment
  • Governor General’s Foot Guards
  • The Canadian Grenadier Guards
  • The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
  • Le Régiment de la Chaudière
  • The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  • The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
  • 48th Highlanders of Canada
  • The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
  • The Calgary Highlanders
  • Canadian Armed Forces Legal Branch
  • Air Reserve
 
And the official Canadian participation




Prime Minister announces Canadian delegation to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II​

September 15, 2022
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that he and Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser will travel to the United Kingdom on September 16, 2022, to attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will take place in London on September 19, 2022. Prime Minister Trudeau will be accompanied by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

Canada will also be represented by former governors general the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean and the Right Honourable David Johnston, as well as former prime ministers the Right Honourable Kim Campbell, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, the Right Honourable Paul Martin, and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper. They will be joined by Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed, and President of the Métis National Council Cassidy Caron, as well as the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet and former High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Janice Charette, and current High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Honourable Ralph Goodale.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and representatives of regiments of the Canadian Armed Forces will join uniformed personnel from other Commonwealth countries for the service on September 19.

In addition, the Canadian delegation will include members of the Order of Canada Mark Tewksbury, Gregory Charles, and Sandra Oh and Cross of Valour recipient Leslie Arthur Palmer. They will participate in a procession of recipients of national honours as part of the service.

The day of Her Late Majesty’s State Funeral in the United Kingdom will be marked in Canada with a National Day of Mourning and a national commemorative ceremony held at Christ Church Cathedral, the Anglican cathedral in Ottawa. The ceremony will be attended by former prime ministers the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney and the Right Honourable Joe Clark, and all Members of Parliament have been invited. The ceremony will be broadcast live for everyone to watch.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as well as the following regiments of the Canadian Armed Forces will participate in the service:
  • The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
  • The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers
  • The Governor General’s Horse Guards
  • The King’s Own Calgary Regiment
  • Royal 22e Régiment
  • Governor General’s Foot Guards
  • The Canadian Grenadier Guards
  • The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
  • Le Régiment de la Chaudière
  • The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  • The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
  • 48th Highlanders of Canada
  • The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
  • The Calgary Highlanders
  • Canadian Armed Forces Legal Branch
  • Air Reserve

Reg F be like


Nooooo GIF
 
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