By Nathalie Murillo
People gather to bid last farewell to Queen Elizabeth II. Courtesy of Bristol World.
The clouds that spread across London skies are filled with grief along with the rest of the nation as they mourn the loss of their reigning monarch last week. Surrounded by friends and family, 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II peacefully took her last breath at her Scottish summer estate, Balmoral Castle.
As noted by the Queen’s personal doctors, the health of Her Majesty has been an area of concern leading up to her passing. Medical experts go as far as contributing her recent decline in health to the passing of King Charles II back in 2021.
The death of her husband of 73 years potentially triggered a chain reaction, leading to her fragile state. The severe physical stress of losing someone who she had been married to for that long weighed heavily on the shoulders of the mid-ninety year old.
Dr Deb Cohen-Jones, a general practitioner from Western Australia, analyzed the photo captured at Balmoral Bastle the Tuesday before her passing. She explained how the large bruise on her hand at the swearing in of Britain's new Prime Minister could have possibly been linked to peripheral vascular disease. The disorder narrows or blocks the blood vessels surrounding the heart and brain, in turn, restricting blood supply.
“It can sometimes result in heart failure. If your peripheral circulation is that poor, organs aren’t receiving a good blood supply. It can be a sign of multi-organ failure” Cohen-Jones tells the Daily Mail.
The long-established funeral plan, Operation London Bridge, for the queen immediately went into effect the moment the queen drew her last breath. The Queen’s private secretary contacted the newly sworn in Prime Minister, who then communicated the news to house staff who gave the order to officials.
With great sadness, officials posted the announcement outside Buckingham Palace at 18:30 BST, upon which union flags were lowered to half-mast to honor the royal death, and Great Britain now enters a week of national mourning and a transition of power. The operation goes as followed:
Saturday, September 10th
King Charles III ascended to the throne, officially becoming king of England and 14 other countries.
Sunday, September 11th
Her Majesty's coffin was carried through villages from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh, allowing surrounding communities to pay their respects. Among them, foreign leaders each individually and uniquely pay tribute to Her Majesty. In an official statement released by the White House, President Joe Biden recalls the moment “she stood in solidarity with the United States” as the nation grappled with one of its darkest days in US history.
Monday, September 19th
After a series of ceremonies, the coffin rested in Westminster Hall for four days before the funeral today at 11 AM BST. Experts predict the event will become the most watched event on the planet, with 40 percent of humans tuned in to witness the royal funeral. Today, as well as the coordination of King Charles III, will be recognized as a national holiday.
As expected with the death of sovereign leaders, the loss of the Queen will create significant economic impact. The estimated financial implications of the monarch’s death totals to around $8 Billion dollars paid by the state from funeral expenses to the reprinting of currency.
Now, many retell the history of Elizabeth II before ascending to the throne. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, now known as the former Queen of the UK, was born into the royal family on the 12th of April 1926. Elizabeth II spent much of her upbringing being educated by private tutors studying British history and law.
It was during the war with Nazi Germany where the Queen became entangled with love with her third cousin. The romance became official in the fall of 1947 where Prine of Greece received the title Duke of Edinburgh. As the eldest daughter of King George VI, Elizabeth II assumed the role of queen upon her father’s death at the age of 25.
After serving 70 faithful years to 32 sovereign states, the longest-serving monarch in British royal history, the Queen’s death will be among the most influential deaths of the era. King Charles III describes the moment as one filled with “great sadness” as he and his family deeply grieve the loss “of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.”