National Mourning
Well, I thought I had finished with my blog, but the recent death of the Queen has prompted some reflections. It was clear the Her Majesty’s health has been declining and, although her end seemed quite sudden, it was in fact, as Dr Kathryn Mannix pointed out, an ordinary death i.e. her slow decline had been apparent, if one cared to look. My lasting memory of the her will be of her sitting alone, wearing a mask, in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, for her husband’s funeral. With quiet dignity and strength, and at the most painful of times, she showed solidarity with her people by following the restrictions imposed because of covid and, as we later found out, in stark contrast to our government. And for that I thank her. Whatever one’s views about the monarchy, I think it is interesting to observe how the pomp and circumstance since the Queen's death has been playing out. I find the mass grieving an interesting phenomenon. Why is there such feeling for a person who most didn’t know per...