A book of condolences is available at Prince Albert City Hall. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

Year In Review: How Prince Albert remembered Queen Elizabeth II

Dec 25, 2022 | 5:00 PM

As 2022 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

She was the longest-serving British monarch in history, a reign that spanned 70 years and seemed like it would go longer.

That’s likely a reason why news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September hit so many the hardest, knowing that the only monarch they’ve ever known was suddenly gone.

On Sept. 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying the Queen was in poor health and members of the Royal Family were on their way to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Hours later, news of her passing was posted on the gates of Buckingham.

The Queen was 96 years old and just months earlier had celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.

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Following 10 days of mourning, a state funeral was held for her late majesty, where millions tuned in from around the world. Before that time, her casket, draped in the Royal Standard Flag of the UK was placed inside Westminster Hall, where locals and international travellers waited hours, if not days to pay their final respects.

While she was not able to visit the casket, one woman who once called Prince Albert home took time to reflect on the Queen and what she meant to the country.

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.

“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.

“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.”

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.

Meanwhile, people in Prince Albert took time to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. The City of Prince Albert had a book of condolences at City Hall where residents could sign it.

Memorial services were also held for the Queen at different churches in Saskatchewan including St. Alban’s Cathedral.

The Solemn Evensong service drew in many churchgoers but also First Nations leaders and veterans.

Among those who addressed the crowd was Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty.

“When we received the invitation, I thought, ‘they put some effort into acknowledging her Majesty and having a service in her memory and I need to be there.’ We made the drive up and it was worth it.”

Mirasty never met Queen Elizabeth II though he was scheduled to in 2020, but pandemic restrictions cancelled those plans. He is hopeful one day he will meet the new Head of State, King Charles III.

The Evensong service featured a few hymns and prayers, starting with “I Vow to Thee My Country” and ending with “God Save The King”.

Aside from the address from the Lieutenant Governor, others who spoke at the service included Ava Bear, Chief of Muskoday First Nation, and Gordon Kirkby, Chancellor of the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

Following the Queen’s funeral, a memorial service was held in front of City Hall to remember the late monarch. Around 100 people attended the ceremony including members of the Royal Canadian Legion No. 2 in Prince Albert, the Prince Albert Fire Department, and the RCMP.

With the Queen’s passing, the next chapter in the British Monarchy begins with the reign of King Charles III. As a result, some government buildings changed their names, including the Court of King’s Bench.

King Charles III will have his coronation on May 6, 2023.

–With files from Logan Lehmann and Nigel Maxwell

–

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock