Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died today at Balmoral Castle.

End of the morning it was announced that she was placed under medical supervision because the doctors were concerned about her health.
She was comfortable, it was said.

That last sentence made us worry.
Especially when members of the family rushed to Balmoral.

Then it was announced she had died peacefully.

Only two days ago she received the new PM.
She looked extremely fragile, but her smile was as bright as ever.

So many years ago she promised to dedicate her whole life to being a Queen, and she did.

In a way she was always present. She was the Queen of many.
She was interested in people, prepared meetings well.
Her talents were that she was able to make people feel at ease under all circumstances, presidents or little children alike.
Sometimes it seemed she was a victim of protocol too. When she laughed when something went wrong, or tried to hide that sunny smile. Her humor radiated through.

It was interesting to see her change during her life. She wanted to learn, even when that meant changing in the eyes of the nation. Life was not always easy to her. Criticism was right around the corner. And oh boy, would people verbalize it!

But she changed from a kind of distant figure into someone who wanted to understand others and show care. Her body changed with it. The last years she was so with someone, that it looked like she forgot herself.

My father met her shortly during WW2. He admired her.
As a little girl I got interested in her because he spoke so positive about her.
I saw photos of her in uniform. She worked in the war 'like everyone else'.
That I was named after her (including spelling mistake: z>s) was even more interesting.

And now she is no more.
The papers, magazines, TV, internet...all the media are flooded with her photos and stories about her.
Many people mourn.

Including one of the veterans I spoke today.
"I fought for peace and freedom...like you always say.
But I also fought for my Queen.
And she was well worth fighting for."


Some say that being a queen was her job.
It wasn't.
It was her lifestyle,
her life,
her being.
Until the moment she died
she was The Queen.
May she rest in peace.