What a shock this past week has been.
Of course on a purely intellectual level, it is not really surprising that a woman of ninety six who is grieving the loss of a husband of seventy years, as well as the grief of other family issues, has now died.
And yet, this was no ordinary woman in any ordinary position.
This was a woman who impacted the masses and who was known the world over as simply ‘the Queen’.
Those who met her were struck by her radiance, smile, humour and humanity.
As one of the masses who never saw or met her, I was surprised by my own sadness. Whilst I didn’t follow her every move, I realise now that I had internalised something of the constancy, steadfastness and calm that her presence provided. I found myself feeling that we have lost a layer of protection somehow through her death.
I can’t fully profess to understand my grief but know only that it is part of the collective grief that we will all experience slightly differently dependent upon our own personal history around loss.
I have nothing but respect and admiration for the way in which the Queen whole heartedly walked the talk of her first speech in committing her life to serving us. I am pretty sure we will never realise the true cost to her or her loved ones of such an unwavering dedication to the world beyond her own.
Whilst she was a woman in what was and still is in many ways, a man’s world, men in power, the world over, sought an audience with her.
Personally, I respected her open acknowledgement of her own faith whilst equally respecting people of all faiths or none.
And I find it inspiring to hear how she impacted people of all ages and stages of life.
What a woman.
What a gift.
What a loss.
I pray now that the God of all comfort will comfort all of us who mourn her death, especially her own family.
And I hope that Charles knows that the God who strengthened and sustained his mother can do the same with him.