When I was 12 years old, sitting in a classroom in a school in which even an ill-advised look could get you thrown into detention (“ARE YOU BEING INSOLENT, BOY?”), a shout suddenly erupted from the window side of the room.
I commend you for your very well written, sensitive piece. I am an American, and am not awed by royalty, but the Queen seemed to transcend rank. titles and aristocratic snobbery with real human kindness.
I think a lot of that goes back to World War Two. During the war, the East End of London, where so many poor people were concentrated, suffered the worst bombing. The homeless children of the East End often moved to the homes of wealthier Londoners. The well to do Londoners were appalled at the suffering and their poverty (In the 30's, chasms in wealth, between the rich and the poor, were much greater in England than in the U.S.; we had Roosevelt and you guys suffered from a political trend known as the "Respectable tendency." In a word, the Respectable tendency said A) Be tough and hard on British workers and B) Be nice to Adolf as he will crack down on unions and the Bolsheviks)
iN any event, the abdication of Elizabeth's Uncle, and the travails of world war two, made the royals of England much more sympathetic to ordinary Britons. Queen Elizabeth's parents became the peoples' king and queen.
I commend you for your very well written, sensitive piece. I am an American, and am not awed by royalty, but the Queen seemed to transcend rank. titles and aristocratic snobbery with real human kindness.
I think a lot of that goes back to World War Two. During the war, the East End of London, where so many poor people were concentrated, suffered the worst bombing. The homeless children of the East End often moved to the homes of wealthier Londoners. The well to do Londoners were appalled at the suffering and their poverty (In the 30's, chasms in wealth, between the rich and the poor, were much greater in England than in the U.S.; we had Roosevelt and you guys suffered from a political trend known as the "Respectable tendency." In a word, the Respectable tendency said A) Be tough and hard on British workers and B) Be nice to Adolf as he will crack down on unions and the Bolsheviks)
iN any event, the abdication of Elizabeth's Uncle, and the travails of world war two, made the royals of England much more sympathetic to ordinary Britons. Queen Elizabeth's parents became the peoples' king and queen.
Thanks, David. You're spot on about her parents. They refused to leave London for safer areas, and people lived them for that.
I felt sad, too. It feels as if an era of grace and dignity left with her.
Very nicely put, Renee
Lovely post about your memories, Terry.
Agreed!
Thank you, Rebecca