The flag-draped casket of Queen Elizabeth II en route to Westminster Hall in London. (The Canadian Press)

By Derek Craddock

FROM P.A. TO U.K.

‘A sad time’: Former P.A. resident in U.K. reflects on the passing of the Queen

Sep 19, 2022 | 12:00 PM

A former Prince Albert resident and her family say they are living a part of history as one of the biggest funerals in world history happened in their own backyard.

Katie MacKenzie lived in the city for many years. Both of her children were born at the Victoria Hospital. Her family moved back to England nearly 14 years ago and currently lives about 45 minutes from London.

As a UK resident, she said the moment news of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing came out, she and everyone around her were in shock.

She explains the last few days have been a sight unlike any other she has seen.

“I think it was one of those things where we knew it would happen one day, but nobody was prepared for it or expected it. You kind of think, she’s invincible, she’s the Queen,” she said recalling when she heard the news while in a local supermarket.

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“I just burst into tears and everybody in the supermarket burst into tears. It was just a scene that I will probably never see again in my life. I came back home, and we are all glued to the T.V., all night. I never thought I’d watch the T.V. because a lot of it was just silence.”

From news reports on the passing to footage of the casket being loaded onto a Royal Air Force plane, MacKenzie said she couldn’t take her eyes off what was happening.

“Everybody was just mesmerized by it and I think that’s because she’s just so loved and respected.”

Even her teenage son Damon said he was shocked by the Queen’s passing, adding his generation even feels a connection to the late Monarch.

“We do feel very sad about it. We kind of don’t have the connection that older generations have for her. Obviously still a sad thing and a big moment in history,” he recalled. “It feels kind of weird because everyone is shocked and mourning. It’s a day that people in England and all over the world will remember for the rest of their lives.”

MacKenzie said she and her family watched the funeral live, wanting to take in the historic moment together. Though they had options to view the Queen’s casket in London or watch the event near Buckingham Palace, she felt it would have been too busy and uncomfortable.

In her community, many people held events as they celebrated the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

Now that Britain, and the world will be looking to the reign of King Charles III, MacKenzie admits, there is some worry, not knowing what the years will bring.

“You worry, what’s going to happen to the country now? Are we going to be, ok? Is England and Great Britain and nearly half the world going to be ok without her?”

For now, though she and her family are taking time to remember the longest-serving British monarch and one last time, thank her for her service.

“We feel that we have so much to thank her for. She has so many years of service to so many countries. I believe she’s the most remarkable monarch we’ve ever had,” she said. “It’s a sad time but it’s brought a lot of people together.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock