On 8 September 2022, the world stopped as we learned that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away aged 96 years (born 21 April 1926). The Queen has been a constant for the entirety of most of our lives so it was hard to not feel this loss, especially as it was so sudden. It’s important to me that I honour Her Majesty in my own small way on the blog, so this Taking Stock post will be dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II (themed around her passing) and may even mention our new King Charles III.
Whether you’re a royalist or not, you have to admit, Queen Elizabeth II was a remarkable woman. Please note this post is about paying respects to the late Queen and has nothing to do with any Monarch vs Republic debate – so please no comments about that.
This is a very different approach to a Taking Stock post but as I recently wrote a catch up post and there’s not much more to report since then, apart from having had a horrible tummy bug kindly brought home to me by my sons, it seems right to devote this post to Her Majesty the Queen.
Making: Her mark in this world, Queen Elizabeth who ascended to the throne in February 1952, has been an exemplary example of service and devotion having dedicated over 70 years of her life to serving the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. My Instagram post when I learned of her passing says as much.
One of the last photographs taken of the Queen – just days before she passed away. It was taken just before she met with the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Getting: Teary watching all the activities following her death on TV, but also proud of them all for such a wonderful send off.
Cooking: Up all the funeral details was done by the Queen and it was nice knowing that as I watched it all unfold. She did a great job and it was easy to see that she had her ‘people’ in mind when planning it.
Sipping: On water and Hydrolyte was all I could do recently when I caught a horrid tummy bug from my sons. I couldn’t even have a port to help send off the Queen.
Reading: The tributes by the Queen’s children and grandchildren was heart wrenching – a reminder that a family is grieving.
Thinking: About how hard it must’ve been for the royal family to have to grieve so publicly and how exhausted they must’ve been after their vigils, marches, speeches, walking meet and greets, etc.
Remembering: Back to when I was a child in my early days at school. There was always a photograph of Queen Elizabeth on the wall in the classroom and we used to sing God Save the Queen as our national anthem.
Looking: Beautiful still, even at 96 and looking frailer, with her sparkling blue eyes and beautiful smile.
Listening: To the bagpipes and the trumpets and the boys choir at the Queen’s funeral made me very emotional.
Wishing: Her peace now reunited with her beloved Phillip, her mother & father, and her sister Margaret.
Enjoying: The pomp and ceremony displayed by Britain since the passing of the Queen. All that precision marching, uniforms and medals, bagpipes and trumpets and horses and so on! Loved how it’s all steeped in history and tradition. It was all very impressive and respectful. They did good!
Appreciating: The Queen’s loyal and committed devotion to service for over 70 years as Britain’s longest serving Monarch. What an incredible achievement. She exceeded her promise, made on her 21st birthday in 1947.
I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong ~ Her Majesty The Queen
Wanting: William and Harry and Catherine and Meghan to all be friends again. They appeared together but body language experts say they are far from friendly with each other. What did you think?
Eating: Honey on toast will be my memory of this time of watching all activities before, during and after the Queen’s funeral as I was in the process of recovering from a tummy bug and could only eat basic and bland!
Finishing: Her reign by meeting with Britain’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, just two days before her death is absolutely incredible!
Liking: That Princess Anne (the Princess Royal) broke royal protocol and insisted that she walk behind the coffin during processions with her brothers and that she stood vigil by the coffin with them too. Way to go Princess Anne!
Loving: The fact the Queen loved dogs (corgi’s) and horses. That tells me a lot about her character and gives us something in common – a love of animals.
Buying: Time, perhaps she did, till it felt like the right time to go.
Watching: The Queen’s funeral was very emotional. She was exceptional and we will never have another like her.
Hoping: Like him or not, I do hope King Charles III will manage his new role and be accepted by the people as the new King.
Wearing: One wonders what was decided upon for the Queen to wear for her final resting place. Am I the only one who has wondered this?
Walking: It was not hard to notice that the Queen’s children (and in some cases her grandchildren) did a lot of walking, not just on the day of the funeral but during the various processions following the Queen’s death.
Following: From Balmoral to her final resting place at Windsor Castle, Princess Anne was with the Queen’s coffin every step of the way.
Noticing: How frail the Queen looked in the last photograph taken of her (see pic above) when she met with the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, but yet still smiling her beautiful smile!
Waiting: The Queen’s dogs, Muick and Sandy, which are pembroke welsh corgis, waited in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle as the funeral cortege arrived while being looked after by two members of staff. Also, Queen Elizabeth’s pony, Emma, was waiting at Windsor Castle to say goodbye to the late monarch.
Feeling: That the loss of her Phillip (her “strength and stay”) is what escalated her decline.
Hearing: The lone piper perform the traditional lament “Sleep dearie, sleep” as the congregation stood at the end of the funeral service, was a very moving moment.
Farewell to Queen Elizabeth II and best of luck to King Charles III. He has very big shoes to fill. I think this post should reveal that I was very fond of Queen Elizabeth II. She has my deepest respect and admiration and I will miss her presence in this world very much.
I’ll return to my usual style of Taking Stock post for the next one which will be towards the end of December 2022. It will be the last quarterly Taking Stock post for the year. It’s unbelievable how quickly this year is going don’t you think?!
If you’d like to Take Stock also, just pop over to the creator of the Taking Stock concept, Pip’s blog – Meet Me At Mikes, and grab the list of word prompts from her last Taking Stock post which you’ll find HERE.
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan’s ‘Wednesday’s Words and Pics‘
16 Comments
Hi Min, This is a lovely farewell to Queen Elizabeth II. She was a remarkable Queen and world leader. I hope you’re feeling much better. I look forward to your next Taking Stock post. #WWandPics.
Thanks Natalie – yes I’m over the tummy bug now – thank goodness!
You got some nice photos there that I hadn’t seen. Probably time for me to do a Taking Stock. been awhile. I love Princess Anne. She’s been not playing the game for a long time. Smart lady. #WWandP
I agree – Princess Anne is fab isn’t she?!
Hi Min – that was an interesting take on the monthly update post. It was such an interesting time seeing all the pagentry and the dignity of the family going through their grief and having to share it with the rest of the world. I so admire how they conducted themselves (even with the family ‘issues’ involved) and I’ll be watching how things pan out now we have a King – he’s waited a long time for his moment in the sun.
Hi Leanne – yes it’s a little different for a Taking Stock post isn’t it? I figured I’d just recently done a catch up post and hadn’t honoured the Queen yet since her passing and so this seemed perfect. I know that as Royals they have a lot of material things at their disposal but I do think it comes with great sacrifice. I don’t think I’d like it at all. So yes, I admired how they conducted themselves too, despite the family ‘issues’!
What a lovely way to do a Taking Stock Min, very clever of you to blend the two into one post. A delightful look at the Queen’s time and I agree all. the pomp and ceremony was amazing to watch. She will be sorely missed.
Thanks Debbie – it was a last minute decision and I think it worked quite well. Different but appropriate!
Hello Min. I’m coming to you from Denyse’s Wednesday link-up. I found your taking stock very interesting. Even in the U.S., we’ve followed the Queen’s passing and the resulting ceremonies quite closely. She was, indeed, a remarkable woman. I too hope that William and Harry, along with their wives, can mend fences and be friends again. Family is the most important thing, even when you are royalty.
Thank you Christie! I agree that family is the most important thing regardless of who or where you are!
Hi Min, I agree that politics shouldn’t come into the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I have great admiration for this Woman of the Century and she touched many lives throughout her long reign. She was a great inspiration and always carried out her duties with grace. I remember thinking that we all probably thought she would be there forever. A lovely tribute post Min and we certainly saw history in the making.
Hi Sue, thank you and I’m glad you feel the same way about the Queen as I do. We sure did see history in the making!
That was a gentle and reverent look at the life of a very influential woman Min. You did that with class and dignity. I too was affected by the death and then watching everything happen as it did in the UK. It was a clear sign of the change of the times too. My Dad, was very affected by it all, even though he kept watching. He saw her a few times on his and Mum’s visits to London . And the first time to Australia, he had me atop his shoulders in Wollongong. It was a HUGE event of endurance. I think you did her a great farewell Min.
Thanks so much for linking up this week for Wednesday’s Words and Pics Link Up.
Looking forward to connecting with you more again soon.
Next week, I am back with my story about following my heart!
Warmest wishes,
Denyse.
Thank you Denyse! Fancy you seeing her atop your dads shoulders back in the day! I had to pay my respects to her on the blog in some small way. It’s a significant loss and she was such a wonderful woman who has been present for every day of my life and the lives of so many. xo
the Queen was certainly an amazing woman who worked hard all her life. Hard to credit that she’s gone – and so suddenly.
Hi Sherry, Yes it was certainly a shock, and very sad.