RIP.
That’s something to think about. Most Britons have never known any other Queen than Elizabeth.
At 71, I’m with you.
RIP Queen Elizabeth.
I'm 75, but was too young to remember when her father was King. I can't say that I remember her being crowned Queen, because I wasn't yet 5. She's been the only British monarch I have known my whole life.
Some branches of my mother's side of the family came from England and Wales. I can't confirm anything, but I am allegedly related not only to the Plantagenets, but also, possibly to the Bruce's. I've been a history buff for many years, and was interested in the history of England, long before I knew of my family connections. That being said, I had a lot of respect for Elizabeth II based on my knowledge of the history of the English throne. She was a saint compared to many other Kings and Queens through the centuries. God rest her soul. I'm assuming that the investiture of William as the new Prince of Wales will take place at some point in the future, perhaps once Charles is crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Someone gave me a postcard of Elizabeth when she was crowned. Lost it and all my other postcards when I left my childhood home. So wish I still had that one. A great, great queen.
My whole life, too. She met with 14 of our presidents. Photo gallery here, starting with Truman:
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/queen-elizabeth
Presidents and prime ministers came and went, wars were fought and concluded, empires and nations dissolved and new countries came into being, and through all the changes and upheavals, she was always there, the Queen, the same Queen.
The people alive in 1901 must have had somewhat similar feelings when Queen Victoria died in 1901 after 63 years on the throne. Suddenly, you feel an era slipping past.