For those of us in the UK today our late Queen, Elizabeth the 2nd, will be laid to rest. Many of us will be watching the funeral on television, and not only just Royalists such as myself. Such was the respect she commanded. She has been a fixture in our life, for many of us the only monarch we had known until she passed away on the 8th.
Many of us work from late teens/early twenties until we hit our mid-sixties, yet Her Majesty carried on working behind the scenes while not on active duty right up to her last days. For over 70 years, through the winding down of the Empire, the build up of the Commonwealth and 15 prime ministers (with her inviting our present PM to take office just two days before her death). Many these days are too young to be aware that she actually started her duties as a Royal when she was just 14 years old, live on the radio broadcasting to the children of the UK and the Empire during our darkest hours. At 18 she then famously, by her own choice, went on to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army, despite her Royal position allowing her to avoid the compulsory call up of all unmarried women under 30.
Growing up in England you were always aware of her presence, her duty to the Country. I barely remember her Silver Jubilee in 1977 (I was just 9 after all), with an organised street party (something that had not been done in my area before or since) being part cancelled as it rained. As a cub, scout, venture scout, and scout leader (I stopped when I went to university) I took obligations in her name and saw no wrong in it. I am regularly at events where the National Anthem is sung, and despite being tone death and embarrassed by my poor singing, I join in with gusto. As I said at the start, I am unapologetically a Royalist and I think it was the strength and power of her Majesty that many of us are.
May Her Late Majesty Rest in Peace
1926-2022
Regina 1952-2022
Long Live the King.
dapprman 
A lovely tribute for our great former Queen. Everything you have said expresses my emotions exactly. I was 11 at the Silver Jubilee and, like you, I was a Cub Scout. I clearly remember the celebrations of that year, as well as the Royal Wedding in 1981. In 2002 I was privileged to file past the coffin of HM The Queen Mother in Westminster Hall. However, nothing in my opinion has been quite so impressive as the events of the past week in Britain. I watched the funeral on television today and was deeply moved. I don’t collect Royal memorabilia or camp out in The Mall for each occasion, but I am very proud to be a subject of the King and look greatly forward to the joyful event of the Coronation next year. Meanwhile, keep up the good work with the fountain pens and ink! Your page is always a pleasure to read.
Well said.
RIP Elizabeth R.
GSTK
A bit late to the conversation, but on the point about working beyond retirement age, I am taking great inspiration from King Charles who has stepped up to his new role at an age where most of us plan to be retired, and in the full knowledge that he will be doing it until he dies. Every time I grumpily think that I ought to be retired by now, I chide myself and think of the new King and Queen Consort.