I suspect that much of the emotion is not the “someone I cared about has died” kind of grief but rather the “it’s the end of an era” kind of grief. Something that had always been there, since long before many of us were born, is no longer there, and it’s a sobering reminder that all things must pass.
It’s not that she died that upsets me. It’s that she died owing me twenty bucks that I’ll never see again that upsets me.
As an American who was born during the reign of QEII, and who learned, to his utter shock, in the 5th grade that she has (had) zero actual political power, here are my thoughts.
First, the “special relationship” between the US and the UK has been a thing since before I was born. On that basis alone, I grew to have some measure of admiration/respect for the British monarchy, while at the same time being baffled at the idea of retaining it.
Secondly, regardless of how individual Britons feel about the monarchy, and the Mountbatten-Windsors in particular, as a country you guys love your monarchy. And you lost your monarch. That’s sad.
Third, despite her flaws, she did exactly what was required of her, and for good or for ill, she did it in spades. That’s admirable.
On these three bases alone, I’m sad that she died. I mean, not sobbing sad, but, “aww, that really sucks” sad. Also, and I can’t say this enough, the ascension of King Charles is likely to be the only ascension of a British monarch that I’m ever going to see (assuming he only reigns for 10-15 years, roughly about as long as I expect to live). I’m glad to have been able to witness history.
Well - maybe all things - except the anachronistic monarchy - must pass! 
For me, it was more of a reminder, “Wait - they still have and care about those figureheads?!”
Strikes me as some kinda nostalgia for times gone by - history and legend going back to Camelot and such, and reminiscing when Britain was an empire. Kinda like Americans holding on to the romantic idea that we are all rugged, self sufficient, explorers and such.
Count me among those who really don’t have the time to spend a single jot more energy on her death than I would any other random person whose death I read about in the news. And, I concur with the thoughts above about the disheartening (if predictable) way folks develop emotional connections with and elevate famous people based on what seems to be an affinity for power, tribal identity, and in cases like the British monarchy and Elizabeth specifically, the draw of traditional/historic symbolism and an inherent love of old ladies.
Because ultimately, 99.9% of the people who are making a thing about Elizabeth are not doing so because of things she’s done. They know almost nothing about her as a person, or about the details of her reign. They might in one sentence lament British choices when it comes to colonial oppression and the speed and compassion (or lack thereof) with which the UK extracted itself from those exploitative relationships, and then turn around and say, “but I love the queen, just 'cause. Why do you have to harsh my mellow?”
Even many of the most left-leaning anti-Monarchy folks seem to carry a fantasy of knights and castles and kings and queens and fairy tales in their hearts, and are unwilling or unable to separate their feelings for the real-life monarchy from those ingrained cultural stories.
Yes, this was my reaction. She was this occasional presence for my entire life, popping up in the news here and there. As much of an Anglophile as I am, I never gave her much thought, nor did I care a whit about Charles and Diana or the rest of them. However, I’ve found myself touched by the grief and remembrances of the ordinary Britons I’ve seen interviewed. To them, this is very personal, and I empathize with them.
And I’m glad for Charles, having finally found gainful employment after 73 years.
Yeah the whole idea of ceremonial monarchys disgusts me. Especially the British monarchy.
I mean fuck. They nearly had a monopoly on the slave trade back in the day. And they’re are still benefiting off of that.
And the fact that 70% or more of Britains are cool with their tax dollars going to support their opulent lifestyle just blows my mind.
You may be right.
I’m not a fan of the monarchy, but to me personally, it’s a sort of “Chesterton’s fence”: I don’t know enough about why it’s there or what purpose(s) it serves to feel comfortable advocating its removal.
It seems to speak to a need or urge in human nature, at least in some humans’ nature. And from what I could see, Queen Elizabeth seems to have served those purposes or needs in a fairly benign manner.
“No matter how silly the idea of having a queen might be to us, as Americans, we must be gracious and considerate” -Frank Drebin
She was 96. It’s been a longer run than most people get. I had no emotion when I heard she’d died. She just made no real impression on me. She’s been queen since I was a year old, and I don’t even feel the “end of an era” thing. I didn’t feel we were in an era, she had so little impact on history.
Anybody have a cite as to whether the royals are a net positive or negative, financially, for the UK?
I just watched Netflix’s Explained about monarchys. The show claimed it was debatable as to whether or not they generate money for the UK.
They do generate a lot of money for tourist type stuff. But I don’t think the new king will have that kind of pull that the queen did
I believe just being the symbolic head of state is an important job in and of itself, if performed with grace and dignity, as QEII did. They’re most important in a nation’s time of crisis, as Britain had to endure during WWII.
As an American, I can’t speak for Brits, but I know the positive effect the royal family had on my English mother who lived (barely) through the blitz of WWII. According to her, Churchill gave the Brits inspiration to fight and the royal family (including young Princess Elizabeth) gave them comfort and a common institution to rally behind.
Mom and her mother (her father was killed in WWI when Mom was a fetus) lived in bomb alley during the blitz and they were bombed out of 3 houses. One bombing cracked their house in half, killed their dog and sent Mom to hospital with a cracked skull (she was embarrassed to have her head shaved). Another time an incendiary bomb landed directly on their roof, but thankfully didn’t detonate. The US Army defused the bomb and gave it to Mom as a war memento. We still have it somewhere. Their mailman neighbor was killed by a V-1 (doodlebug) rocket. They found his body and that of a young girl a 2 blocks away from the blast.
During the many blackouts, neighbors gathered underground, sang patriotic songs and spoke proudly of their beloved British institutions, including the royal family, while V-1 (and later, V-2) rockets chug chug chugged above.
In America, after the war, Mom always spoke lovingly and proudly about soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth, who was just a couple years younger than she. Elizabeth was her touchstone connection to a country she loved and missed. The royal family helped get Brits through the hell of a world war.
Perhaps royal rulers aren’t so important when things are going well, but when times are bad, they can be great comfort and inspiration (…unless they are someone like Vlad the Impaler).
I also believe there are intangible benefits to having a well-respected monarchy at your helm. When someone like Putin, an egomaniac who diametrically opposes your nation’s way of life, pays reverential tribute to your monarch, that must count for some political points.
My mother loved Queen Elizabeth. I loved her by proxy. She was a great lady and a fine monarch.
Well, that’s fine. Your mother was British. She had an excuse. My heritage on my father’s side is like 95% British Isles, and it doesn’t make me, as an American today, feel any connection with the monarchy. And that’s fine, too.
I admit I’ve been a bit more moved by the Queen’s death than I would have expected. In America, we express our most profound thoughts in 140 characters. We worry about how much it will cost the next time we fill up at a gas station. The 2024 election is as far into the future as most of us care to look. Contemplating a life like Elizabeth’s really expands those boundaries. When she became Queen, Sputnik hadn’t even been launched, yet. Historians name ages after people like that.
All that, and I heard one TV commentator describe her as “the nation’s favorite twinkly-eyed granny”. It takes a special person to be both.
I’m with the OP. We broke from the British royal family about 250 years ago. It was a good decision. I took note when Diana literally spoonfed an AIDS patient. As even most allies were taking a ‘Gee, I am so sorry you are sick. Now stay at least 100 feet away and downwind’ position that was truly commendable behavior. I couldn’t tell you anything else about Diana, though. If Elizabeth ever did anything to get my attention, I’ve forgotten.
My mom’s side is from somewhere in what used to be the USSR. My great grandfather fled to the USA after he was forced to kill one of the Czar’s soldiers in self defense during a pogrom. I have a rather low opinion on royalty in general.
Never having cared or paid much attention to any royal doings, I’m willing to accept the evidence that Queen Elizabeth was a classy lady who shouldered the responsibility she was born into and comported herself with grace and intelligence (and @Riemann’s cite in post #16 is pretty awesome). And if people feel a certain wistfulness at the “end of an era,” well, that’s understandable even if I don’t share the feeling.
But … personal grief that she died? That I don’t understand at all. C’mon, she was 96 years old - a longer run than most of us can expect to get. Only people who were in personal, loving relationships with her, such as family members or trusted friends and staff, should feel any sense of personal sadness.
Today I found out about three client dogs who died, and Queen Elizabeth.
I actually felt grief over the dogs, especially Benny (gonna miss ya, Benny), not so much QEII.
But I see this anytime a celebrity dies, people weeping and gnashing of teeth over someone they don’t really know, and probably wouldn’t like if they did.
I think that part of it is that she’s been around so long that everyone learned to just take her for granted. Her presence was a constant. And so when she wasn’t present any more, it was jarring.
It’d be like if, suddenly, the Sun started rising in the west and setting in the east. It probably wouldn’t make much practical difference, but people would still be shocked by it.
Sorry to hear about Benny and friends.
OT, but if the planet’s rotation reversed itself overnight, there would be some serious practical consequences for the survivors.