‘A servant queen’: Paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Across the globe, the death of Queen Elizabeth II has prompted reflections on the historic sweep of her reign and how she succeeded in presiding over the end of Britain’s colonial empire and embracing the independence of her former dominions.

Tributes to the queen’s life have poured in, from world leaders to rock stars to ordinary people — along with some criticism of the monarchy.

Midland resident Maureen O’Neal, who was born in England and lived in Thrapston, Northamptonshire, from the age of 9 until the age of 30, recalls that whenever she went to the movies, the song “God Save the Queen” would play afterward and everyone was expected to stand out of respect for Queen Elizabeth.

“She was always a presence in our lives,” O’Neal said. 

“I saw her from afar once when I went up to London. I think it was on a school trip,” she recalled.

O’Neal feels that King Charles will carry on the monarchy well.

“I’ve always admired him, so I think he’ll be a good king,” she said.

She feels that even those who consider themselves “anti-royalists” still appreciate what the queen did for England.

“I think they all admired the queen,” O’Neal said.

Judith Richards, a native of Wolverhampton who moved to the United States 20 years ago and is a speech and language pathologist for the Midland County ESA, has a deep appreciation for Queen Elizabeth.

“She was just an incredible person, Richards said. “She dedicated her life to serving the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. I just thing that’s an amazing thing to do. She served as the monarch for 70 years. That was an amazing, incredible commitment that she made. She’s seen a number of changes throughout the country. She’s accepted everything with incredible dignity, grace and servitude.”

Richards believes that the monarchy is still very important today.

“I think the popularity of the monarchy has fluctuated over time, depending on what events were happening. But the support for the queen has always remained constant. And I’m sure it will remain the same for King Charles,” she said.

The widespread tributes that followed the queen’s death came not only from U.S. President Joe Biden but also every living president.

She was a “stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States,” Biden and first lady Jill Biden said in a statement, adding that she ”defined an era.”

Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, said Elizabeth made “the role of queen her own — with a reign defined by grace, elegance, and a tireless work ethic.” George W. Bush called her “a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit,” and Jimmy Carter said Elizabeth’s “dignity, graciousness and sense of duty” were inspiring.

Elizabeth was mourned across Europe. In France, Britain’s historic rival and contemporary ally, officials ordered flags at the presidential palace and public buildings be lowered to half-staff on Friday.

French President Emmanuel Macron released a video message Friday in English expressing a sense of “emptiness” after her passing. Addressing the British public, the French president said: “To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was THE Queen, to all of us.”

Even in places where the relationship with British monarchy is complicated, the tributes flowed. In India, once a British colony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Elizabeth “a stalwart of our times.”

The queen’s death came as a growing number of British territories in the Caribbean are seeking to replace the monarch with their own heads of state amid demands that Britain apologize for its colonial-era abuses and award its former colonies slavery reparations.

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was having trouble believing he’d had his last sit-down chat with Elizabeth: “I will so miss those chats,” he said. Elizabeth had visited Canada 22 times as monarch.

“For most Canadians, we have known no other sovereign,” Trudeau said. He said she was a “constant presence in our lives — and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”