# Breaking - The Queen is unwell (has died): 8 Sep 2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [September 8, 2022, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212 "2022-09-08T11:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/341 "2022-09-09T16:42:02Z")
Interesting tidbit that I didn’t know: The queen never visited Israel. > **[Why did Queen Elizabeth never visit Israel?](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/queen-elizabeth-israel-never-visited-how)** > > Queen, who visited more than 120 countries during her seven-decade reign, accused by some of an unofficial boycott ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/342 "2022-09-09T16:43:37Z")
Harry lives just a few short miles away from me, although needless to say we don’t run in the same circles. That man was screwed from birth, I wouldn’t trade my anonymity for any amount of money and if I were him I’d drop the fuck out too. I might have a bit less sympathy for Meghan who chose to be an actor which comes with celebrity if you’re successful but what she has had to endure is disgusting. The whole institution is rotten despite the honor and dignity that QEII brought to it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/343 "2022-09-09T16:50:10Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The whole institution is rotten Well, anything based on inherited privilege is inherently rotten. I don’t think _anyone_ should be allowed to inherit outlier-level wealth or privilege. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/344 "2022-09-09T16:59:09Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Would former national leaders (esp of close British allies) receive formal invitations to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral? Would we expect (names for the sake of framing the question), say, Angela Merkel, Brian Mulroney, Lech Walesa, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Nicolas Sarkozy, recent Irish Taoiseaches, etc. to be in attendance? I’d be really surprised if these people were not invited. However, if this an indirect way of asking if a certain Florida resident will be invited, I suspect that person will be pointedly left off the guest list. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/345 "2022-09-09T17:01:59Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I suspect that person will be pointedly left off the guest list. I’d be shocked if he crashed the funeral. /s ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/346 "2022-09-09T17:02:40Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I’d be really surprised if these people were not invited. However, **if this an indirect way of asking if a certain Florida resident will be invited** , I suspect that person will be pointedly left off the guest list. Rest assured it is not. **Sage\_Rat** ’s post about Israel above is interesting, and Netanyahu would be another leader I wonder about. EDIT: And I realized later that Barack and Michelle Obama were left off my ‘curious about list’. But I was pretty sure, being so recent and cordial with the Queen, that they’d attend. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/347 "2022-09-09T17:07:28Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > 1. Would former national leaders (esp of close British allies) receive formal invitations to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral? Would we expect (names for the sake of framing the question), say, Angela Merkel, Brian Mulroney, Lech Walesa, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Nicolas Sarkozy, recent Irish Taoiseaches, etc. to be in attendance? Who decides who gets invited? Not sure where the funeral is being held (Westminster Abbey, perhaps) but space is presumably not unlimited. So is each country expected to send just a delegation of two or three people? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/348 "2022-09-09T17:08:59Z")
william is now prince of wales, cathering the princess of wales. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/349 "2022-09-09T17:12:09Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > **Sage\_Rat** ’s post about Israel above is interesting, and Netanyahu would be another leader I wonder about. I should have read that article further. Apparently Queen Elizabeth granted (uncertain on terminology here) an honorary knighthood to the late Shimon Peres in 2008. Presumably if Peres were still alive, he’d attend if invited. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/350 "2022-09-09T17:12:52Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > That’s a great story. And it shows her intrinsic kindness that she made sure the hiker got the photo he actually wanted, even though he didn’t ask for it. I’d heard the story before, but it never occurred to me that the Queen might have made the effort to make sure they got a picture of her, too, thus combining a good-hearted joke with an act of kindness and what would undoubtedly turn out to be the greatest surprise of this couple’s lifetime! Another story that occurs to me is not about the Queen’s sense of humour, but about her grace and quick mind. On one occasion many years ago when she was visiting Canada, there was a formal event at which many people came up to meet her. One young lady came up to her, and the Queen extended her hand (you’re never supposed to touch the Queen uninvited, but when she extends her hand, you take it). The young lady took her hand, and tried to curtsy. Unfortunately, the young lady tripped over her dress at that moment. As the young lady told the story later, the Queen, who was already holding her hand, grasped it in a vise-like grip and held her up until she could recover herself. To all outward appearances, it was a gracious curtsy and nothing had happened. I’m sure this young lady, to this day, has boundless respect for Elizabeth II, and gratitude for saving her from a terrible embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/351 "2022-09-09T17:14:21Z")
funeral will be at st. paul’s as it can hold 3000 ish people. there will be quite a few members of various royal housed there. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/352 "2022-09-09T17:15:33Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Who decides who gets invited? Not sure where the funeral is being held (Westminster Abbey, perhaps) but space is presumably not unlimited. So is each country expected to send just a delegation of two or three people? Some portion of invitees will likely have to decline with regrets. Jimmy Carter will be 98 in a few weeks. I don’t know if he’s still up for overseas travel or not, though I’m aware he has been in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/353 "2022-09-09T17:22:57Z")
There probably won’t be a lot of space for anyone after her extended family, politicians from across the UK and the commonwealth, members of the institutions she headed up and was involved with, household staff, royalty from other nations, religious leaders, representatives of all the various charities she was involved with etc etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/354 "2022-09-09T17:32:05Z")
I came to mention that too. I suppose granting that title is in the royal prerogative, so the King can do it any time he likes, in any form he likes; and he just did in his TV address. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/355 "2022-09-09T17:32:43Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > EH “No-one else would go!” > HM (laughing merrily) “Oh, but you were dispensible!” Dang! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/356 "2022-09-09T17:34:36Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > There probably won’t be a lot of space for anyone after her extended family, politicians from across the UK and the commonwealth, members of the institutions she headed up and was involved with, household staff, royalty from other nations, religious leaders, representatives of all the various charities she was involved with etc etc etc. That’s what I’m wondering. When, say, the ambassador from the Solomon Islands says they want to attend, who tells them, “Sorry, there’s no room”? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/357 "2022-09-09T17:38:07Z")
Exactly. The President of Vanuatu will be higher up on the list than President Biden as he represents a Commonwealth country - although I’ve no doubt the Biden’s will be invited along with other non-Commonwealth leaders and ambassadors. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/358 "2022-09-09T18:02:42Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > This is my favourite story about the Queen: > > [https://youtu.be/Uw9g1Q74t4s?t=44](https://youtu.be/Uw9g1Q74t4s?t=44) That’s terrific! This may be of interest - some funny memories here, too: [How does the Queen answer the phone? - The Straight Dope](https://www.straightdope.com/21344159/how-does-the-queen-answer-the-phone) ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/359 "2022-09-09T18:07:11Z")
I think that shows something important about her, and why she was able to do her job well - she was never particularly self important, and realised that it was the role of Monarch that is important, not the person who holds it. Frankly something more leaders could do with realising. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/360 "2022-09-09T18:11:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Who decides who gets invited? There will be politely frantic exchanges between the Foreign Office, the Palace and the Earl Marshal’s office, possibly involving the PM on particularly tricky cases [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212.md?page=19)