I was born in the UK, on a cold night on November 2nd, 1961. I left at the age of two as my parent's life took them elsewhere in the world. I first returned to the UK as a 19-year-old in 1980 as a guest of my aunt for two weeks after having worked as a chef in the South of France for a summer.
England was so different from North America, as to be a different planet. My aunt and uncle lived in Notting Hill, one street over from the famous Portobello market. One of my aunt's neighbours owned a stall on the market and two things, he would refuse to sell you anything if he didn't like your face, secondly, he and his wife would neither answer the phone or the door on Sundays -- nothing religious rather they wanted peace and quiet one day a week.
The Queen of England was nothing to me, as a Canadian (I also hold a British Passport) I felt no allegiance to the Queen, yes she is on the Canadian dollar and on our coins, but that's it. This morning I saw on the news that ALL the senior royals had interrupted their activities, the BBC had suspended its regular programs and even Harry and Megan were on their way to Balmoral. It may not be the end of the 97-year-old monarch but the end is a lot closer.
It's strange, although I lived in the UK for a decade as an adult I feel no special bond to the monarch. I kind of admire the Prince of Wales who, unlike his mother, has been waiting his entire life to get the job for which he trained. I admire his comments about the very ugly buildings built in London during the 1970s, and I admire his support for Scottish artists.
I don't admire his behaviour around Princess Diana, although I suspect that the Prince of Wales's current wife was always his first love, and because he was the future king marrying her was simply impossible.
So I find myself reflective today, I have no real connection to England or the royal family, Still...I cannot explain my sentiments today.
Today the Queen has died, as they say long live the King.
Comments