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Patrizia's avatar

I am very impressed that she was still committed to doing her job up till two days before her death.

In that widely circulated photo where she's welcoming Liz Truss into office, she looks ill: blue hands, noticeable weight loss, what looks to me like swollen ankles (which would indicate some kind of congestive heart failure.)

I don't think much of the job itself, but I think she performed that job conscientiously and well, and that earns my respect.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

It is her devotion to duty which was the impressive thing. She refused to retire unlike the Queen of Netherlands. I have to wonder if she held herself together for the transfer of power.

I thought it looked like heart failure.

Apparently she decided she could do regal as it saved her from having off-days.

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Patrizia's avatar

Yah. From my former Emergency-Room-Nurse perspective, she definitely looked as though there was a cardiac issue.

Devotion to duty is admirable. Even if (like me) one has doubts about the credibility of that duty.

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jt's avatar

TY as always, Ma'am... I'm sorry for Your loss and the Commonwealth's. She was well-loved. Queen as long as I've been alive. Like You "said," her like will not be seen again.

Will read the articles about politics now.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

It is all going to be v interesting.

The politics of the new government will take some time to see if they are effective. I think Truss figured that she has 18 months and if she can't get re-elected, she will be out on her ear.

I don't think anyone thought Penny Mourdant would be thrust into the spotlight in the way she has been -- she will be in charge of the Accession Council and thus should be kept busy with the coronation etc. Might be the best place for her.

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Patrizia's avatar

I just naturally assumed that BoJo hand-selected someone (Truss) who was bound to fail so that he could make a triumphant return. 😀

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Truss is not his handpicked successor. I think it was anyone but Sunak for Johnson as SUnak was the person who wielded the knife.

I do think Johnson now wants Truss to fail.

Personally I just want someone competent as the country is in a hell of a mess, thanks to Johnson and his cronies. We have January 25 potentially of the Conservatives and I would rather not go further downhill. I think we will have a hung parliament for the next time.

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jt's avatar

TY for Your reply. I looked at the cabinet's in-trays. Phew! Energy seems the worst of it. But then You got all those people planning on striking?

Dunno which side-a the pond has it worst.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Yes we have a load of strikes on. I believe the Royal Mail is on strike. The rail unions are on strike (they tend towards the bolshie side). Barristers have gone on strike for defence cases (they haven't had a pay increase in 30 years among other things -- 15% promised for new cases only at the end of the month, something the independent inquiry said should have happened 4 years ago).

Liz Truss is freezing energy bills. Personally I hope Putin is defeated soon as that is the only thing which will stop this.

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Patrizia's avatar

Freezing energy bills! Not something I would expect from a Conservative politician. But a good thing.

I just got back from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The pals I was staying with live in Bathgate, and they were really, really concerned about the very real prospect that people would be freezing to death this winter from lack of access to affordable heating energy.

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jt's avatar

TY again. Yeah, I read there were 60,000 "Crown cases" backlogged. Dunno exactly what that means, but that the strike makes it worse. Didn't know about the pay issue. That's pretty horrible.

And I read You'd need income of more than 60,000 pounds to handle the prospective energy costs. Yeah, Putin. One can only hope.

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Alison Bull's avatar

My father, who is 77, remembers watching her coronation on American television.

It’s incredible that she did her duty up until two days before her death at 96 years old. Yesterday was a historical day and now we enter a long age of Kings.

I don’t believe King Charles can live up to her but it’s always as such when someone follows an incredible person. Must be strange to take on the job in your 70s.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Ah it was Edward Murrow who commentated for CBS. His wife Janet also was involved.

Her like will not be seen again.

And I don't think God Save the Queen will be sung in my lifetime except in a historical context.

Charles will be different but he has had a long time to prepare. He is v earnest and v pleasant. His sister Anne is more on top of her briefings -- insight from someone who has met them both -- I have met neither. But he does care and was able to champion certain causes long before they became fashionable.

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