Queen Elizabeth - The Passing of an Era

 Amazing to think that Queen Elizabeth has really passed. She was already Queen for 2 years before I was born in 1954. So she has been a presence in the world for all of my life.

An amazing woman, from childhood to driving an Ambulance in the Second World War and marrying Prince Phillip in 1947, she really was unique. Her portrait is featured on the currency in 33 different countries, underscoring the breadth of the old British Empire, upon which the "Sun never set."

She surpassed Queen Victoria in years on the throne and was getting ready to become the longest reigning Monarch in history. Only Louis XIV of France, with a 72-year and 110-day reign from 1643 until 1715 surpasses her in that regard.

Interestingly, the Stone of Scone, also known as Jacob's Stone, is now in Scotland, having been moved there in 1997. It is currently displayed in Edinburgh. The Queen passed away in Balmoral, also in Scotland. Every reigning head of the British Empire has been installed while seated on the throne with that stone beneath it since about 1296.

She will be replaced by her eldest son Charles, the third to bear the name as King. But more importantly, she will be missed by most, if not all, of the world.

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words....

A picture is sometimes worth a thousand words, and I've been waiting on this one for a very long time. You can almost hear them exclaiming, "My word, have they gone mad?"

Apparently they don't understand that the people are fed up with an outdated monarchy at a time when the aristocracy is raising the tuition at Universities across Britain. Keep your eye on the "Man Who Will Never be King." He's always good for a laugh.

And Camilla seems irked at seeing the poorer classes waste food by throwing eggs at them. I can just hear her thinking, "How dare they! No wonder they're poor!"

Great photo, one that I will cherish, not being a big fan of Monarchs.