Another person who is suprised how sad I am. Seems I will miss her.

Though we never met she has always been in the background, constant with her presence.

Yes also sad at this news. Particularly so because, whilst ailing, she still seemed okay a few days ago. I had a brief direct encounter with her during a "walk-about" at the Wellington Town Hall during her 1976 (or was it 1977?) tour of NZ. Gracious, but smaller than I expected.

wellygary:

 

MikeB4:

 

Some 17 British Prime Ministers, I wonder how many she wished she could have used a cricket in her dealings with them.

 

17 NZ ones too...

 

- Sid Holland
- Keith Holyoake
- Walter Nash
- Jack Marshall
- Norman Kirk
- Hugh Watt
- Bill Rowling
- Rob Muldoon
- David Lange
- Geoff Palmer
- Mike Moore
- Jim Bolger
- Jenny Shipley
- Helen Clark
- John Key
- Bill English
- Jacinda Ardern

 

13 US presidents as well:
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/09/08/queen-elizabeth-us-presidents-517480

Apple and google honour the life of QEII

https://www.apple.com/nz/

https://www.google.co.nz/

allan:

 

Yes also sad at this news. Particularly so because, whilst ailing, she still seemed okay a few days ago. I had a brief direct encounter with her during a "walk-about" at the Wellington Town Hall during her 1976 (or was it 1977?) tour of NZ. Gracious, but smaller than I expected.

 

1977,I was a 9 year old Primary school student in Auckland. Our School went and waited outside the old Victoria Park Markets for like an hour on the side of the road. She drove past us waving with her gloved hand and smiling out her window. It lasted a mere 10 seconds but i will never forget her face. A pretty exciting moment for a 9 year old back then.   

allan:

 

Yes also sad at this news. Particularly so because, whilst ailing, she still seemed okay a few days ago. I had a brief direct encounter with her during a "walk-about" at the Wellington Town Hall during her 1976 (or was it 1977?) tour of NZ. Gracious, but smaller than I expected.

 

I think  she had been ill for sometime and was obviously had problems moving and in discomfort. Otherwise I think should would have lived for at least as long as her mother. I never thought the Duke of Ed would be the one to nearly make 100 instead as he looked ill for years.  She had been lucky with her health until relatively recently. I have see grandparents go through this sort of thing in their 90's and it is tough at the end. I think this is the way she wanted to go. It is an accomplishment to live to that age. 

It does feel like an odd sort of day, became for years we knew this day would come. But it almost doesn't' feel real. 

I first noticed her as a child with her bright red uniform and on horseback in a booklet about the Canadian mounted police, which my later brother-in-law had brought to Germany from Canada and which I thought was pretty cool at the time because of a TV series (Sgt. Preston of the Yukon). I also found out that she was the Queen of England and other Commonwealth countries. I was always very impressed by her iron discipline, which set an example.

As a person who took on a role she never wanted but did it to the utmost of her ability she was a perfect example to us all of getting on with the job and dealing with the hand you have been dealt, with a smile on your face.

She might have had a priviledged life but she never had the freedom we have to do or say what ever she wanted. There was always someone watching/listening. There were expectations to be upheld which she did with a grace and dignity that most of us could never achieve.

RIP Queen Elizabeth II

allan:

Yes also sad at this news. Particularly so because, whilst ailing, she still seemed okay a few days ago. I had a brief direct encounter with her during a "walk-about" at the Wellington Town Hall during her 1976 (or was it 1977?) tour of NZ. Gracious, but smaller than I expected.

mattwnz: Otherwise I think should would have lived for at least as long as her mother. I never thought the Duke of Ed would be the one to nearly make 100 instead as he looked ill for years.

Another one who is very sad to see the passing of this remarkable lady and monarch, I truly believed she would make it to the century as her mother did.  I was extremely fortunate to be in London during the Platinum Jubilee weekend earlier this year and witness the celebrations in person.  It was so special to inadvertently be a part of that historic moment.

I wonder if we will have a special national holiday to mark The Queen's passing in the next few weeks.  It's been 70 years afterall, is it important enough or significant enough for NZ to go that far?

This is a rather amusing anecdote: I remember reading an article in the Listener in the either the late 1990s or early 2000s when cellphones were really starting to take off.

The Queen was walking along a line up of important British politicians to meet and shake their hands etc.

One of the ministers (from memory Clare Short) went to shake HRH's hand and Short's cellphone started ringing in her handbag.

As she scrambled into the depths of her bag to switch the damned thing off, Her Majesty (drily) suggested that maybe Short should answer it in case it was someone important 😄

SJB:

I would think the realization that you would have to meet with John Major or Tony Blair every week for the next five years would make anyone  want to abdicate.

 

And how about having the Trumps to dinner?

quickymart:

She can be reunited with Prince Philip now. RIP your Majesty 😢

I wondered how long it would take for people to sink into grubby politics.

Congratulations, 3 pages.

Her majesty managed to stay above it, some just can’t I guess.