London Bridge has fallen down

I had a couple of as they say pre-recorded blogs to post the end of this last week and over the weekend but with the events of this week I felt the need to write something else.

It was 1230 UK time on Thursday September 8th that a note was passed to the UK PM Liz Truss and around other senior members of parliament, Keir Starmer rushed out of the commons chamber and returned wearing a black tie, now we'll likely never know what the contents of that note were but it clearly was not good. The Queen had been ill before but this was something more serious and the BBC basically all flipped to wearing black and what is known as Operation London Bridge had essentially started. With Operation Unicorn as well.

[Added note, it has subsequently come to light that the PM for sure knew before she started her speech in the commons, according to well placed sources in the Cabinet Office she was told at 1140 that the Queen was seriously ill and had hours, not days, that would kind of make sense as by 1230 members of her family were already on the way to Balmoral. For sure that means those flying up from London never made it, Anne was already at Balmoral and it would have been a close call even for Charles and Camilla. Sure she looked frail on Tuesday, but not that frail!].

Charles, Camilla and Anne were in Scotland and it was about the same time they headed to Balmoral, also William, Andrew, Edward and Sophie headed to RAF Northolt around the same time.

After that we don't really know what happened when but at 1830 a news flash appeared saying the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. Later it came to light that Liz Truss was told at 1630, it was very likely therefore that sometime in the hour before that the dreadful moment happened.

What is particularly sad is that with those timings it is clear that those traveling from RAF Northolt never made it in time and they knew as they drove into the grounds of Balmoral, probably explains why Edward and Sophie in the backseat of the Range Rover driven by William had such horrific looks on their faces and they were waiting for them to arrive before announcing it.

I'll certainly never see another Queen in my lifetime as even with the change to the succession rules, the next Queen is 3rd inline to the throne and she has an elder brother. Sadly I do expect to see another monarch as at 73 as Charles acknowledged in his speech last night his time is limited.

There are so many memories, the Paddington sketch from the Platinum Jubilee, the James Bond sketch from the 2012 London Olympics, the interview with the former Royal protection officer when the Queen met American tourists in Scotland and they never realised who she was. The Invictus Games video with the Obamas and Harry and the cutting of a cake, when she was told a knife was available she said she used the sword because it was more fun. One of the best little stories was the one from Theresa May about the cheese from a BBQ she attended at Balmoral was a classic.

There are so many more anecdotes and memories, I met her and Philip in person once and like all of those interactions what struck me is just how much of a dry sense of humor Philip in particular had and just how much of knowledge she had and how much of an interest she took in everything.

All of these go to show just how grounded and a normal person she really was. The photo below combines her first and last photo, shows just how much of an amazing lady she was, working until the end. The poem below has gone viral.

Phillip came to me today, 
and said it was time to go. 
I looked at him and smiled,
as I whispered that “I know”

I then turned and looked behind me, 
and seen I was asleep. 
All my Family were around me, 
and I could hear them weep. 

I gently touched each shoulder, 
with Phillip by my side. 
Then I turned away and walked, 
with My Angel guide. 

Phillip held my hand, 
as he lead the way, 
to a world where King’s and Queens, 
are Monarch’s every day. 

I was given a crown to wear
or a Halo known by some. 
The difference is up here, 
they are worn by everyone. 

I felt a sense of peace, 
my reign had seen its end. 
70 years I had served my Country, 
as the peoples friend. 

Thank you for the years, 
for all your time and love. 
Now I am one of two again,
in our Palace up above.