The End of the 2nd Elizabethan Age

I am quite saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I am grateful for Her Majesty’s 70 years of service and remarkable dedication to our Commonwealth throughout her grace’s very historic reign.

I had the pleasure to see her majesty twice when visiting Canada, both times in passing, once in early 80s and again in the late 90s. The first time I was only nine, and a motorcade escorting the queen passed through the highway near our neighborhood so all the kids went to the overhead bridge and waved to her as her car passed by us. The second time was in Newfoundland to celebrate the anniversary of John Cabot’s discover of the island, and that time her car was less than several feet away from me, and the window was open enough for us all to see her wave as she passed by us.

I also have a personal, hand written letter from one of the crown’s ladies in waiting saying that Her Majesty had enjoyed the poem I head written for her highness, and personally asked a lady to respond to express thanks and gratitude for sending it. I had sent a letter to her majesty only a few months earlier with a sonnet attached that was about her highness. I was expecting the generic response from the palace, but the personalized letter from the lady in waiting was quite surprising. To hear my poem was well received by her majesty was also nice to hear.

Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch of the commonwealth I have ever known since I was born, and it will feel odd not having her grace around anymore. Her Royal Highness will be greatly missed, and so ends the second Elizabethan Age.

Peter