Queen Elizabeth II's Death

BY ELINA NAM

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held” - Prince Charles the III, The Times

After serving 70 years as the United Kingdom's beloved monarch, Queen Elizabeth II took her last breath in Balmoral Castle on September 8th, 2022: the whole world was heartbroken.

Queen Elizabeth has always been a symbol of unity and tradition, for not only the UK but the whole world. She was a timeless figure, who remained stoic and unbothered among the great changes that were affecting the world. To many, Queen Elizabeth was the comforting head of the British monarchy, which she had developed from instability to prosperity.

Thousands of people queued for hours for a glimpse of her coffin, and global leaders and civilians alike took to social media to offer their condolences and express their great sorrow. The UK sank into a state of grief, and many recalled the Queen’s past reign with endearment

But while we mourn the loss of a dear ruler we must also ask ourselves these questions: What’s next? Who will lead us now? What will become of the monarchy?

Succeeding the queen is King Charles, her eldest son and the oldest monarch to ascend the throne. However, while the queen, who accepted the crown at 25, had a lifetime to prove herself, King Charles does not have the same benefit. Moreover, his vocal positions on political issues and his public split from Princess Diana can only serve to hurt him in the future. In fact, a British poll revealed that while 70% of the population supported Queen Elizabeth, only 50% lend the same support to King Charles

Another issue to address is the decline of the royal family’s relevance in modern society, as well as the scarcity of its working members. What was once 30 royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace has now been reduced to 10, consequently causing a decline in public appearances and event attendance. Additionally, the royal family is an aging workforce, with an estimated average age of 66 - a problem for the decades to come.

The Queen was, according to British Prime Minister Liz Truss, “the rock in which modern Britain was built” and without her presence and stability, along with the changes of the modern age, the future of the royal family is alarmingly uncertain.