Chapman community reacts to the death of Queen Elizabeth II
After the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Chapman students seem to wonder if the royal family is a symbol of unity for all to adore — or is their glamorous public image merely a high-end Kardashians spinoff? Unsplash
To many, Queen Elizabeth II was the sweet little lady who always wore bright color-coordinated ensembles, was asked to cut cake an absurd number of times and served as the face of England for almost 71 years. Although her image was glamorous, with some corgi companions along the way, some people didn't see the queen as such a prominent figure.
Upon her death on Sept. 8, people all around the world came together to remember her legacy as a good-hearted queen. But there were others who did not understand why the queen, and the whole royal family for that matter, is so adorned.
Even though she has shared marmalade sandwiches with Paddington Bear and sky-dived with Daniel Craig, senior political science major Huw Pickering was not interested one bit.
“I would say I disapprove of people who say that (the queen's death) did have a personal impact on them," Pickering said. "She was literally a queen, and she's not an elected representative. No one chose her to be the head of state. She just happened to be born to the right family. People didn't know her, people weren't friends with her, people didn't have a personal connection to her. She was a symbol to them."
Pickering is from Australia, a commonwealth country, which means it was once under British rule. He even went to Gordonstoun School, the same boarding school Prince Philip and now King Charles III attended.
Although Pickering had walked in the same halls as the Queen’s offspring and came from a country that once saw the Queen as head of state, he told The Panther he did not feel close to her.
“There are a number of Australians who are very fond and nostalgic of their connection with Britain," Pickering said. "I’m probably too young for that to apply to me. (Australia) became de facto independent in 1901, so from 1901 onwards, we've sort of determined our own destiny.”
Queen Elizabeth II died Sept. 8 at 96 years old. WikiCommons
Aaron Watson, a junior creative producing major, is half-British on his father's side, but like Pickering, Watson grew up outside the U.K. in Spain. However, Watson said he felt a much closer connection to the Queen than Pickering did. Going 11 generations back, Watson's great uncle, Major General Lambert, was offered the crown of England after Oliver Cromwell died in 1659, Watson said.
More recently, Watson's grandfather, Keith Charles Dissington Watson, served in the Royal Navy alongside Prince Philip in the 1940s and was an Equerry, an officer who assists members of the royal family with their official duties, to the Queen before he retired. He was also responsible for “looking after” Charles in 1974 when he visited California.
Other than having a familial relationship, Watson said he saw the queen as a symbol of unity hailing over England. Not only did thousands of people pay respects to the Queen at Buckingham Palace after her passing — some waited more than seven hours in a queue running through green park, according to The Independent — but the royal family also generated buzz around the world.
“People come together just to see (the royal family) and it's a great thing,” Watson said. “They are a symbol which (my family) fought for. (The royal family) don't really do much, but it's a great source of tourism.”
After the Queen’s death, people took to TikTok to share old videos of Elzabeth’s inspirational speech and appearance to commemorate her kind words.
“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change," Queen Elizabeth said during her 2019 Christmas speech.
Laura Cobas, a junior creative producing major, said she has been an admirer of the Queen since she could remember, feeling like the queen brought people together from so many generations.
“I think Americans were sad because she was so old and we grew up with her," Cobas said. "My parents even grew up with her and she's been the queen for so long."
Watson also said that the Queen should be honored and remembered fondly due to the service she did during her reign.
“She did a lot of things during World War II," Watson said. "She televised (the royal family) and allowed people to see more of them and all the things they do. She was just incredible for everyone."
Sophie Yang, a senior public relations and advertising major, compared the lavish lifestyle and glamorous public image of the royals in the U.K. to what Americans would only see on TV in the US.
“They are in England what the Kardashians are in the U.S.,” Yang said. “It's just fun to fixate on a family and see what they're up to and there's constant drama. I've never fully understood it, myself included. I always wonder, ‘Why am I watching an episode of The Kardashians? Like they're just a family, it doesn't matter.’”
King Charles will be crowned with the St. Edward Crown during his coronation, which The Telegraph predicted will be in spring or summer 2023. Cobas said the future of the monarchy will now be upheld by the modern generation who will continue admiring their shiny scepters and orbs.
“I think the queen was a symbol of how traditions can still last even if they change and it doesn't have to be a bad thing,” Cobas said.
Watson projects that Charles will continue the legacy that the Queen left behind of freeing colonies throughout his reign just as she did. Many will now see the king prepare the rest of his family for this new transition — including preparing his son William to be the next heir to the throne.
“I hope they will continue, and I think we're going to see their colonies become independent. (The British Monarchy) is definitely gonna last, hopefully," Watson said. "It might not be as loved as it once was, but it's definitely going to last."