Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, September 8th, Caroline Kelly captures the reactions of world leaders and UCD students to this new phase in the life of the British monarchy.
Following the death of her father King George VI in February 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen at the age of 25. On 8 September, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral Castle aged 96; she was Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
Charles, the new King, issued a statement upon his mother’s death, stating, “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”
As monarch, Queen Elizabeth will be granted a publicly funded state funeral, which is scheduled for Monday 19 September. Pending coronavirus restrictions, the funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, and Queen Elizabeth will then be buried alongside her husband, Prince Philip, at Windsor Castle.
At the time of her death, responses from various world leaders poured in with immediacy, many of whom expressed grief and offered condolences to the royal family.
After the news broke, U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss remembered Queen Elizabeth II as “the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign” adding that “Britain is the great country it is today because of her.”
President of the United States Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden remarked that she “defined an era”, continuing “She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection…And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.”
“She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection…And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.”
The office of First Minister of Northern Ireland has been vacant since February but previous incumbent Paul Givan, tweeted that the Queen “has served our Nation and Commonwealth with remarkable grace and distinction.” The former Deputy First Minister and current Sinn Féin leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill also offered her condolences to the royal family. In a statement, she added that she was “grateful for Queen Elizabeth’s significant contribution and determined efforts to advancing peace and reconciliation between our two islands.”
Within the Commonwealth, responses from leaders were sympathetic and deferential. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a speech in Vancouver shortly after the Queen’s death. “She was our Queen for almost half of Canada’s existence and she had an obvious, deep and abiding love and affection for Canadians,” Trudeau said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, where the Queen was also head of state, paid tribute to the “sympathy and kindness” that the Queen had shown towards Australians. “Through the noise and tumult of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm,” Albanese added. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote that she would “be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people.”
The days leading up to the 19th of September brought about a seismic change to the monarchy. Prince Charles automatically became King upon the death of his mother. He will be known as King Charles III. He is now head of state not just in the United Kingdom but in 14 other Commonwealth member states including Australia and Canada. He will also become head of the 56-member Commonwealth, although that is not a hereditary position, after his succession to the role was agreed upon by Commonwealth leaders in 2018. Charles III is now leader of the British Armed Forces, the judiciary and the civil service, and he is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. He is also the Fount of Honour, which entails that all honours, such as knighthoods, will now be granted in his name.
“There is a saying that ‘the sun never sets on the British empire’ and while it remains true, I can sense a coming twilight within the Commonwealth.”
Ushering in a new era of the British monarchy, many questions arose over its current relevance, as well as statements reflecting on Britain’s colonial past. Priyanka S, a student from India, recalls a complicated relationship between the monarchy and the Commonwealth. “There is a saying that ‘the sun never sets on the British empire’ and while it remains true, I can sense a coming twilight within the Commonwealth,” she says. Then, she describes an enduring resentment towards the monarchy and the impossibility of separating the Queen from colonialism. “We must never forget the wrongs of the past,” she adds. “I must remain conscious of my heritage and the struggles that my people have endured.” Just hours before news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death emerged, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech urging India to break its colonial ties in a ceremony to rename a street that once honoured King George V. Rajpath, formerly deemed Kingsway, was a “symbol of slavery” under the British Raj, he stated. Instead, under the newly named Kartavya Path that leads to the iconic India Gate, “a new history has been created,” said Modi.
In Ireland, the Queen’s death brought about sympathetic responses from political leaders. In a statement, the Taoiseach said: “On behalf of the Government of Ireland, I would like to convey my deepest sympathy to His Majesty King Charles, the Royal Family, the UK Government and the British people on the loss of their beloved monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.” He continued that “the Queen’s reign was one of historic duration, immense consequence and a focus of respect and admiration around the world. Her dedication to duty and public service were self-evident and her wisdom and experience truly unique.”
“[I found it] frustrating considering the queen died peacefully, and took that same chance of a peaceful death away from a lot of people under her rule.”
However, some students offered different sentiments regarding the Queen’s death. According to Ella W, an arts student with Irish, Indian and British heritage, “I don’t know if I really felt anything, her death is something that I knew was inevitable. I neither see it as a celebration nor a time to mourn. If anything, it’s perfect timing to abolish the monarchy.” Ella found the circumstance “frustrating considering the queen died peacefully, and took that same chance of a peaceful death away from a lot of people under her rule.”
Siobhán Matshazi, a drama student, reflected on the Queen’s death with a similar disdain for the monarchy. She commented, “the monarchy is awful, to put it plainly. The privilege and status they hold by name and precedent is wrong.” Siobhán also expressed confusion at the “joyful” response to the Queen’s death in Ireland: “What are we celebrating, exactly? The Queen is dead, but the monarchy is not; although she is the face of countless atrocities, this thing we are criticising, as in the Monarchy, still exists.”
Luke B, a politics student from London, foresees an end to the monarchy “in our lifetime.” He spoke to the possibility of “a political reckoning within Britain itself. The monarchy in today’s world is still very much a national symbol, but one that has not always accurately reflected the complex realities of the nation, such as Brexit.”
“At a time of deep social and economic crisis in Britain, we might also wonder whether a renewed focus on the monarchy serves to distract or deflect from problems within the state, or will it soon feel like a jarring anachronism?”