What Momentous Days These Have Been

 

What Momentous Days These Have Been...

 

What a momentous time these past 10 days have brought us, with the death of Queen Elizabeth; especially poignant for people in Scotland, as she died at Balmoral. 

 

The reverence and care the people of Scotland showed Her Majesty as she lay at rest in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, is surely a good indication for the continuation of England and Scotland remaining firmly in union together for some long time into the future.  

 

Then the journey to London: The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, taking up her solemn duty to accompany her mother's body on the flight from Edinburgh. 

The Royal Family had one evening with Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace, before the four-day Lying in State in Westminster Hall. 

Apart from her subjects travelling to the capital from all over the United Kingdom, people flew in to London from all parts of the world, to have the opportunity of filing past the coffin. The queue was long, the weather was not particularly kind, but still nearly a quarter of a million people stayed the course, and paid their last respects. 

Particularly moving were the two Royal vigils - the first, by King Charles III, the Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward; the second, held by all eight of Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren - the eldest aged 42, the youngest, only 14. They all stayed stock still, taking their places by the guardsmen, until the tap of a staff on the stone floor signified a changing of the guard.

What a stirring, emotional and memorable day the 19 September has been - a loving and respectful send off to our wonderful Queen Elizabeth II, as well as showing the world what Britain can do in terms of pageantry and amazing organisation. 

 

We loved all the touching words spoken in tributes and messages of condolence from leaders from all over the world, especially from President Macron of France, President Trudeau of Canada and American President Biden; it was amazing to see all these powerful men - and women - in Westminster Abbey.

You could see the grief and the strain etched on the faces of the Royal Family, but they all carry on, no matter what. There will be an official week of mourning now, so I think the next few days will give them a short respite, time together and just to take deep breaths before their busy lives take over again. 

 

After watching all these scenes unfolding, and witnessing the perfect culmination of a truly memorable day, I was inspired to write this poem:

A SUCCESSION SONNET

 

It’s after the funeral is over

And all the crowds have gone home;

And the streets of London are quiet

That people may feel all alone.

Our beloved Monarch is resting

At Windsor, with those gone before;

With Prince Philip, her mother and father,

She’s surrounded by love evermore.

 

And now, after national mourning

Life goes on, as surely it must;

We never forget, but keep close in our hearts

Our Royal Family, with respect and in trust.

And now, for our King, Charles the Third, we rejoice

And lift up our hearts and our minds, with one voice:

 

GOD SAVE THE KING

 

Alexandra Wilde

19 September 2022

 

St George's Chapel, Windsor