She Was The Only Queen We Ever Knew

September 8th, 2022, started like any other morning for me in London. I had planned to visit a couple of churches and take some pictures and possibly take care of a legal errand in the afternoon. I got to the two churches and returned to my flat to change because the tube had been very warm. I had the TV on and was watching the news when Huw Edwards, one of the BBC’s most distinguished news readers and reporters, completed an update on the Queen’s health and his face gave the news before the words came out of his mouth. “Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth had died at Balmoral Castle”. For the first time in 70 years the words, “the King and the Queen Consort” were spoken with regard to Britain’s reigning sovereign and spouse. Operation London Bridge, the long discussed and oft revised plan for this eventuality had begun.

Like the majority of people in the UK and the Commonwealth, this American blogger assumed that Her Late Majesty, as the reports began referring to her, would have lived to at least 100, and probably outlive her mother who died just months short of her 102nd birthday. But it was not to be. Many of us had been shocked to see how frail the Queen had looked a few days before her death when she had received the outgoing and incoming British Prime Ministers at Balmoral. But both had commented about how sharp and engaged she was, so everyone just assumed that all was better than it was.

And so, a stunned United Kingdom, the British Overseas Territories, the Crown Dependencies, the sovereign states where she remained Head of State, and many of the Commonwealth nations that continue to hold her in high esteem, began to mourn the loss of this remarkable woman who on her twenty first birthday made a speech that included these words: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” While the empire is long gone, the Queen did devote her life to the service of the citizens of the UK and of the countries of the former empire.

Almost immediately, the floral tributes began to arrive at Balmoral, Windsor Palace, just outside London, and at Buckingham Palace. The first bouquets arrived at Balmoral before the Queen’s younger children and grandchildren did. Only King Charles and Princess Anne, the Princess Royal were with the Queen when she died. By the second day after the Queen’s death, the decision was made to move the flowers from Buckingham Palace at the end of each day to Green Park, a huge park adjacent to Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Palace. The sheer number of bouquets, Paddington bears, notes, cards, children’s drawings, flags from organizations she was a patron for, were staggering, yet touching and beautiful.

Over the days following the Queen’s death, two parallel processes were happening, the installation, for lack of a better word, of the new sovereign and the official mourning process and funeral of the Queen.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. While Prince Charles immediately ascended to the title of King and ceased being Prince of Wales, upon his mother’s death, there are numerous legal steps that had to be taken to formalize his role as head of state of the United Kingdom. Most governmental power resides in the UK Parliament and in the devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for certain local matters. But the sovereign serves as the symbol of the State and as the leader who is above politics can give advice to the Prime Minister and can, as the Queen did for 70 years, and as her father, King George VI did during World War II. In the United Kingdom, the sovereign, is also Governor General of the Church of England and has the title of Protector of the Faith. But not in Scotland. History going back to the time of the union of England and Scotland in 1707. The Scottish Presbyterian Church is independent. Therefore, days after his mother’s death, at another political process unique to the United Kingdom, the Accession Council, the King signed a document guaranteeing the continued freedom of the Scottish church. His formal coronation will not take place for months.

The UK, with a new Prime Minister, faces a very dangerous winter because of potential heating fuel shortage. Because King Charles is an ardent environmentalist and, at 74 years old, he has been at his mother’s side for many years. He knows many of the energy executives and the international leaders who the political leaders with have to work with to resolve the problems they face. He could provide valuable advice to his new Prime Minister. This can be the strength of a constitutional monarchy, the stability that the sovereign provides.

I have British friends who would like to see the UK become a republic, but few of them can tell me how they would like to see it happen. I do not find that hard to understand because I believe it would be a process akin to the United States trying to fix our legislative system or our electoral system. Each system is intertwined with the historical fabric of our way of life and our governmental structure. I have American friends too, who think it is all a bit archaic and a waste of time and money. I like to remind my American friends that it was only some thirty years ago that an American politician whose party had not been able to gain a majority in the Congress created a false “gridlock” to gain the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, in an attempt to turn the US into a parliamentary democracy. Instead, he managed to destroy a successful system of bipartisan cooperation that had helped make America a successful economic power that had gone to the moon and made progress on intractable social problems. Look at where that “contract ‘on’ America” has left us today.

The formal mourning and funeral process that took place must have been extremely difficult for all the Royal Family, but especially for the King and Queen Consort. King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Queen Consort travelled, not only back to London, but then made trips to the Welsh, Northern Irish, and Scottish capitals to show each constituent country of the United Kingdom his respect and to thank them for their support and love for the Queen. In addition, the King, with his consort by his side, was carrying the procedural duties I mentioned above. I will assume that most readers saw the incredible stories of the lines that thousands of people queued in to walk past the Queen’s coffin, first in Edinburgh, then in London, where the lines were many miles long and lasted over 21 hours in some cases. The rich and famous, like former Prime Minister Theresa May and football star Davide Beckham queued alongside ordinary citizens. The scenes in Westminster Hall where the Queen’s children and later her grandchildren stood vigil around her coffin touched every heart. Of course, the religious ceremonies and the processions were profoundly moving. The armed forces of Great Britain pledged an oath to serve the Queen, as we in the American Civil Service and Armed Forces pledge an oath to uphold our Constitution and laws. I know how deeply such an oath becomes a part of one’s soul and I understand the emotion and care that soldiers, young and old took in being part of this process.

Let me close this segment by saying that Queen Elizabeth should be looked at for the way she carried out her responsibilities as head of state and head of the Commonwealth. She lived her life guided by her faith. I admired her. Rest in Peace.

The Long Goodbye, The First Noel, Secret Maps

The Long Goodbye

My last week in London is a time of reflection and of fond farewells to favorite places and friends. I’ll start with two pictures of the mighty trees in Russell Square Park as they go deeper into Autumn.

In summer these trees form a canopy over the park and shield much of the outside world from view. Now, though in various shadesof gold, green and brown, they remind me that my time in London is coming to an end for another year.

The First Noel

On a final visit to Covent Garden, I found that Christmas had come to the venerable shopping arcade, even before Halloween had arrived.

The weather outside has certainly been cold enough to remind us of the coming winter season, but this used to be a time in London when poppies were sold and displayed in honor of those who had lost their lives in defense of Britain, a tradition that goes back to World War 1.

Secret Maps

The British Library had one last gift for me in the form of its current exhbition “Secret Maps.”

The exhibit included ancient maps. secret maps, escape maps, an astrolabe and more. Below are a few examples.

All in all, an interesting experience

More of the Long Goodbye

A gathering took place at Caffe Tropea. A group of my friends, who I met at the caffe several years ago, came together for a chance to wish me farewell. It is one of the joys of my trips to London to have come to know this eclectic group of people. We laugh and joke, solve the world’s problems and drink delicious Italian coffee. It is always hard to wish this group goodbye.

As the last week continues, my friends Nigel, Gwynne, and Mike met me for lunch today. We spent a few hours chatting. It was warm enough to eat outside. We were, once again, at Caffe Tropea and thus able to enjoy the beautiful views in Russell Square Park.

Last Things and Things that Last

Last Visit to Wigmore Hall

It was another drizzling Monday in London and it was the day of the last Wigmore Hall Monday Afternooon concert I would see this year. It was a great one! Pianist Alexandre Tharaud played Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A. He then went on to play improvisations on songs by Piaf (Poulenc’s Homage), Jaques Brel (“Don’t Leave Me,” made popular by Rod McKuen as “If You Go Away”), Pesson abd Trenet. Theraud played brilliantly and even teased and joked with the BBC Radio 3 presenter. It was an uplifting and joyful experience.

A New Exhibit and an Unplanned Tour of the Wiener Holocaust Museum

I had looked forward to seeing the new exhibit at the Wiener Holocaust Library on Russell Square. The Exhibit is called “Finding Ivy-A Life Worth Living (The Story of British-born Victims of the Nazis’ T4 Programme). ‘Aktion’ or Aktion T4, as it was known after the war was a Nazi program in Germany and Austria from 1940-41 which killed some 70,000 adults with mental or physical disabilities, living in institutions. It was deemed so horrible that the Nazis were forced to stop it. The exhibit focuses on several British-born people caught in the horror.

The exhibit was difficult to view, heartbreaking and sad. But, as all the Wiener Library exhibits do, it reminds the visitor why we must never let such a regime into power. Never Again!

Unexpectedly, for me, the Library was offering free tours of the entire facility. One normally only sees the large double room in the front on the ground (first) floor where the exhibits are shown. We saw the “book store,” the basement floor containing an incredible number of books, newpapers, physical objects that the library owns and we heard the story of Dr. Albert Wiener who started the collection in the Netherlands after the Nazis took power in Germany and managed to get it shipped to London before they took the Netherlands. While he escaped to London, he could not arrange visas for his wife and three daughters. He did manage to get them false Paraguayan passports which saved them from the gas chambers, but did not stop them from being put into a camp for foreigners, once the war started in ernest. The four women survived the camps and did manage to be included in a prisoner exchange. Sadly, Mrs. Wiener had been very ill in the camp, giving all of her rations to her daughters. She died before reaching England. Their daughters did survive and join their father.

Among other exhibits we were shown during the tour were the tragic last message from a German nurse who had escaped to England and her family in Germany. We also had the opportunity to hold in our hands one of the horrendous yellow Star of David badges all Jews were forced to wear.

We also saw the research library where people with family members in Germany and Austria who were killed in the Holocaust can do research along with students and scholars from around the world. In addition, much of the collection has been digitzed and can be accessed on line.

Visiting a House that Preserves a Time Gone By

Standen is an Arts and Crafts style country house in East Grinstead, Sussex England. I met my friends Nigel and Gwynne Grant at the East Grinstead Train Station and we made our way the short distance to Standen and its extensive gardens. Arts and Crafts was a style greatly influenced by the designer William Morris.

As you can see, the furniture. wall coverings, and objets d’art are exquisite and preserved beautifully.

While it was past the prime viewing season for the gardens, they still were lovely.

I’m not sure, but this fellow might be just back from Portland Oregon’s No Kings Day.

Well, this leaves me with one week to go. I still have a few interesting adventures.

Above, Nigel and me standing in the Standen garden. Photo by Gwynne.

Antiquities, Post Impressionism and Thoughts on No Kings Day

A quiet Autumnal afternoon found me back at the British Museum revisiting the ancient worlds of Egypt and the Mediterranean. As we move further into a digital modern age and world of artificial intelligence, sometimes it good to reflect on the incredible ingenuity and creativity of those who came long before us.

Egyptian funerary art remains a mystery. In today’s world, so many have dismissed faith in a supreme being or an afterlife, that we can only imagine how Egyptians came to create and develop their belief systems.

The care and artistry that goes went into these items is remarkable and thought provoking.

Ancient Rome and its predecessor communities gave us such an amazing variety of artistic achievement.

Sculpture, pottery, mosaics, representations of mythical creatures and emperors, So much from this relatively small corner of the world.

I guess I should say that it is this time in my London sojourns, as the days dwindle down to a few, how much I love living so close to the British Museum and being able, on a whim to spend some time there.

Oh, Did I Forget to Mention More Late Bloomers?

The local parks continue to give us late blooms, as we head into the second half of October.

Helene Kröller-Muller and Her Post-Impressionist Collection

Helene Kröller-Muller was a German philanthropist whose impressive collection of Post-Impressionist Art was on display at the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square. A dear friend, Rhonda with whom I share the honors of being a graduate of Oceanside, NY Senior High School and SUNY Oneonta, suggested we visit the exhibit during our day out during her brief visit to London. There isn’t a superlative that can capture this exhibit. The picture at the beginning of this blog is also from the exhibit.

Rhonda and Me in front of the National Gallery, with George Washinton (headless) behind us.

Bonus Photos

Two Interesting Bloomsbury Rooftops.

No Kings Day

It seems strange to be away from the USA on such an auspicious day. I sat this morning in the plaza of British Library on Euston Road, looking up at the Ann Frank Tree, grown from a sapling taken from the tree that sat outside the window of the Frank families hidden refuge in Amsterdam.

It seems impossible to me that 80 years after the world fought to end authoritarian rule by the German Fascist government that millions of Americans would be taking to the streets to peacefully protest what they see as a growing threat to our Constitution and our democracy. Can millions more Americans not see what is happening and can they not see the attempts to ignore and erode the rule of law? Young Ann and millions more died simply because a leader hated who they were. He did not have a system of checks and balances to stop him. Where are the checks and balances in our democracy today. Did our fathers and grandfathers fight and die in vain? I pray that the protests today remain peaceful and that we see all three branches of our Federal government acting within the law and according to our Constitution.

Here, There, And Everywhere-Museums, Public Art, Trees

Public Art

It was a quiet day and I was just out walking to get my steps in. In the course of my walk, I ventured onto the campus of University College London (UCL) and found these two sculptures.

The first is Thiruvalluvar, a Tamil Poet and Philosopher. The second is “The Green Man,” a figure from British folklore.

Tree Talk

I can never pass the The Brunswick Plane Tree (aka, the Great Plane of Brunswick Square) with stopping to admire it and to stand in awe of this great tree which dates back, at least as far as 1796.

These photos do not do it justice, but if you are ever near Brunswick Square in Bloomsbury London, stop and visit.

Back at the National Portrait Gallery

On another day where my scheduled day did not go to plan, I decided to hop on the Picadilly Line and begin my farewell tour of favorite places. First Stop, the National Portrait Gallery. OK, I admit it, I’m still looking for them to install an individual portrait of Queen Camilla, the Queen Consort. I took a few photos of some of the pieces I really like.

Lee Miller Exhibit at the Tate Britain

My dear friends Nigel and Gwynne came up from Kent and we agreed to meet at the Tate. Unfortunately, they went to the Tate Britain and I went across the river to the Tate Modern! After a bit of travel on my part, we met up for the Lee Miller exhibit at the Tate Britain. Lee Miller (1907-1977) started out as a fashion model. She moved to Paris and became a fashion and fine art photographer who took some stark pictures of the aftermath of World War II.