NZFF

I unashamedly admit, as an ardent royalist I felt extremely sad when I saw the news early this morning.
I had the honor as a young airman, to meet her Majesty twice, something I'll never forget.
Like many have said today, it was her devotion to the role that impressed me the most among other things.

Won't get into debates about the value etc of the Royals, not the right place, and definitely not the right time.

She had a lot to put up with, but she did little harm and a lot of good. My older cousin said it well:

‘She was a woman you could only have the greatest respect for. She led a dysfunctional family and a dysfunctional country and never put a foot wrong for all those years. Amazing person.’

Mike

Good Queen Brenda, as we affectionately called her, (1926-2022), has always been part of my life. (1934 -).
She is/was 8 years older than me, and she came to the throne in 1952, two years after I got my Motorcycle Driving licence in 1950 on my 16th Birthday.
A Grand Lady, who did everything for the good of everyone!, and kept the United Kingdom respected all around the world.
The remainder of my world will never be quite the same, from now on, following the Corona Virus Epidemic in 2020, and now the effects of the wars in Ukraine.
Looking back now, all my good times ended in Xmas 2019!
What comes now, is a bit of an unknown!
Unsettling times for us all!
Take care, everyone!....
Paul... :UK: ...!

P.S. Many thanks Marty, for starting this thread. At the time, I was wondering if anyone else was aware of her departure!

"P.S. Many thanks Marty, for starting this thread. At the time, I was wondering if anyone else was aware of her departure!" No problem Paul.

Having served 22 years in the RNZAF, I also, (like most military people) have great admiration for the Queen. We take an oath to serve her, we salute her, we toast her, and her crown adorns our crests and some rank insignia. Now we mourn her loss. But a new chapter begins. Long live the King.