We asked our friends at Celebrated Experiences, a growing team of destination experts in the U.K., Ireland and Italy, what the passing of Queen Elizabeth II meant to them, since they live and breathe the British culture daily. We received the most lovely feedback and, so, we’re sharing their thoughts here as we commemorate this very sad and significant passing of an iconic world leader.
Preston Epstein, the 86-year-old founder of Celebrated Experiences, based in Atlanta, told us that “the Queen has been a part of my life, from her coronation until her passing. We have grown old together.” He said he always admired Queen Elizabeth II: “She was a rock despite all the personal, private and public turmoil she lived through. She was the personification of dignity."
Frank Laino, Celebrated Experiences’ director of concierge services, is based in London and was out and about the city today. “People came out of their offices and shops and stopped to observe a two-minute moment of silence at noon,” he told us. “There is so much love, respect and admiration for the service the Queen gave to our country. The crowds around the palace are huge.
"People understand what a historically significant person the Queen was, and they are there to celebrate her life and to mourn her. King Charles [III] took the time to shake hands with many people, and he was cheered loudly.”
Laino says the monarchy is still significant because it provides a consistency in an ever-changing world.
“The Queen was always there. She did not express opinions or political views, and you always felt she was doing the right thing for the good of our country, and its people,” said Laino.
Ty Horn, COO, is based in Atlanta and agrees that the Queen exemplified the best of leadership. “Her commitment to service, responsibility and the class with which she conducted herself was an inspiration. She had an energy that made you feel like you knew her personally although never having a chance to meet.”
Michele Mella, the company’s new chief partnership officer, based in the Cotswolds, noted that for nearly all the people in the U.K. she was the only monarch they have every known. “She was a permanent feature in our lives. She has been a symbol of stability and dedication. All her life, she showed unwavering support for the Kingdom and Commonwealth. RIP, your majesty.”
Olive Roberts, vice president of product development, based in Ireland, said the news of the Queen’s passing is all over Ireland’s newspapers and radio stations. “When the Queen visited Ireland in 2011, it had a huge impact on the majority of people here,” said Roberts, who lived in London for 10 years. “Specifically, her visit to Cork, where I live, when she broke protocol and walked out to greet the crowds really touched so many people. All her speeches were very poignant and everyone paid attention.”
Her passing is hitting everyone hard because people have known only one Queen and this is the first time they’ll see a change in the monarchy, added Roberts.
“We look forward to witnessing a Coronation, something that could happen once in a lifetime,” Roberts said, adding that she's looking to the future for other reasons, as well. “King Charles III as Prince of Wales has visited Ireland quite often; he honeymooned here and we look forward to his revisit as King,” she explained.
Simone Papiri, director of sales, based in London, is not British, but has lived in the U.K. for half his life and has only known one Queen. “Yesterday, it was a bit of a deja vu for me. I felt lost and sad, just like when Pope John Paul II passed away. I am from Rome, so I felt that so much.”
He said the Queen’s passing is traumatic because “she has gone through so much during her reign, yet she always carried on, smiled and showed resilience. She is a truly remarkable example for us all.”
Ashleigh Johnson, senior travel design director, based in Atlanta, told us, “As an American, the monarchy can be at times a curiosity. Watching the evolution of the monarchy is fascinating, as they’re not only thought of as leaders to their country but are now known as real people that the public can relate to. The Queen did an incredible job of showing that she was able to rule a country while also staying true to herself and family.
“As Boris Johnson said, ‘She seemed so timeless and so wonderful that I am afraid we had come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on.’ It’s a massive change to something that has become so familiar, so I can only imagine what the whole of the U.K. feels right now."
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