Reflections on the Loss of Our Queen
Our personal reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth II may have taken us by surprise – be it emotional or reflective. No one can doubt the impact of such a long-standing Monarch who has spanned generations and been part of the fabric of our society and culture – the very weft and weave of ‘Britishness’.
From state operations, national celebrations and commemorations, to elements of day-to-day life: her image ever present on our bank notes, coins and stamps, the Queen was so ingrained upon our National psyche, even on a subconscious level.
She was a constant, a figurehead, a guiding light; whether you are an ardent Royalist or fervent republican, there was no denying her devotion to public service and the dignity and decorum which set her apart from politicians and other public figures.
Her reign and influence extended over social and technological advances, changes in attitudes and the erosion, or at least the blurring, of traditional class structures. Among them, the changing role and immediacy of media – from the reverential reporting and commentary of cinema news reels and formal radio broadcasts, to television and digital platforms: constant, questioning and often critical.
The Palace frequently fell out of step. The mantra of “never complain, never explain” didn’t cut it at times of constitutional crisis. From a PR perspective, the balance around maintaining the mystique of royalty alongside accessibility and visibility, amid changing attitudes and methods of media consumption has been a difficult one, sometimes misjudged or slow to respond.
But for all the media scrapes, our appreciation of the Mother of our Nation has grown. Her stoicism and dedication to duty set her apart from the actions of other members of the royal family. During lockdown, her national address provided reassurance at a time when the fabric of society seemed to be fraying. Perhaps that is why, despite her advancing years, we wanted her to go on – distanced from the reality of mortality by the mystique of royalty that set her apart.
Of course, the reality is very different…human frailty which embraces us all, took her in its grip.
Operation London Bridge, the long anticipated, planned, updated and rehearsed response to the death of our Queen was triggered. This included, the media response, much of it compiled ahead of time to support the grieving of a Nation.
Our awareness raised by the announcement of royal family members being called to Balmoral, many of us tuned into evening news programmes in readiness for an announcement – hoping for the best but expecting the worst. When the news finally came, expectation did not lessen the impact of grief.
As state broadcaster, the BBC struck the right tone. News anchor Huw Edwards never faltered in his task. His tone and delivery considered and beautifully measured, attuned and commensurate. The coverage stayed in the moment, refusing to leap ahead, giving us the opportunity to accept the reality.
Today, we must reluctantly come to terms with the end of an era. As communicators, we should take a temperature check, modify our tone and messaging, watch, wait and respond to the need for National mourning. The Queen was a thread who connected us all – we must now take her lead and respond with the dignity that set her apart.
