The world and specifically the British people are mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The passing of The Queen marks the end of the reign of the most iconic monarchical figure of the 20th and 21st centuries. Beginning at age 21, when she ascended the throne, to age 96, when it all ended, The Queen made of the British monarchy something more than a symbol. She centred it with her quiet and steely personality and became the glue that held it together. From the vast outpouring of love and admiration that have flowed from her subjects, especially since her death, the British people seem pleased with what she has accomplished as their monarch.

The British monarchy is part of an archaic system of monarchical arrangement that developed in Europe. But the British have been the most enduring and impactful of them, in terms of its influence at home and abroad. Queen Elizabeth made it relevant to Britain and the world when other monarchies had lost their substance. By her gentle, non-intrusive demeanour, she made it an almost indispensable institution in British society. Rather than being seen as a mere relic of the past, she anchored and cemented it as one which people could respect and would find it hard to do away with. Non-monarchical sensibilities by detractors, especially those of a socialist hue, failed miserably in their frequent denunciation of the monarchy and futile suggestions to have it abolished.

The fact is that people have grown to love The Queen, who, to them, was more than a symbolic person. She was their queen — loved, admired, and not feared. Instinctively they felt comfortable and secure in her hands. She was a stabilising force on whom they could depend, whether it was early in her reign in giving the nation assurance and encouragement during Germany’s bombardment of London or showing her strong sense of compassion when COVID-19 ravaged her country.

The Queen, in turn, showed remarkable adaptability in not alienating her subjects. A case in point was the occasion of the death of the beloved Princess Diana. The public had not been too warm to the monarchy’s treatment of her and her divorce from then Prince Charles. The outpouring of grief when she tragically died in a car accident put the monarchy squarely in the cross hairs of the public’s grief and anger. Many of her subjects felt that it had become detached and was losing relevance. If ever there was a time for the abolition of the monarchy, that was it. But The Queen used her diplomatic skills and her powers of persuasion and quiet dignity to allow compassion to rule the moment. Later she made the important pivot to making the monarchy more open and responsive to the needs of the people. This was evident when the novel coronavirus pandemic struck.

Now that she has died, what next? Immediately on her death Prince Charles becomes King Charles III. Some have said that he has big shoes to fill, but he would be well advised to continue wearing his own without pretence and do the best he can. He more than anyone else knows that there has been and will only be one Queen Elizabeth II. Charles becomes king at a point when a new prime minister has taken the helm of power at 10 Downing Street. There can be opportunity in this as both seek to chart a new path for Britain after The Queen’s death. There will be uncertainty ahead as they try to forge this union. But Britain is a very malleable society and they will no doubt weather the storms ahead.

The what next question is perhaps of more immediate importance for us in Jamaica. We will certainly observe the mourning protocols contingent upon her death. And talking about this, I can understand, but certainly do not appreciate, the fulminations of those who are criticising these protocols in mourning The Queen’s death. Whether we like it or not, and however unpalatable it tastes, the constitutional facts are that The Queen is still the head of State of Jamaica with the governor general still her representative here. If this truth is admitted, then we cannot refuse her this recognition of her on her death. The prime minister and the governor general or their representatives have to be present at the official funeral in England.

Even if it was Michael Manley who was prime minister, he would do the decent thing and attend the funeral. But I notice the People’s National Party (PNP) is having a hard time accepting these simple facts. Senator Peter Bunting’s recent broadside in a speech on the matter was not helpful in understanding the veracity of these mourning protocols. One can be certain that if he were the prime minister at this time, he would be making plans to attend the funeral or at least send a high official to represent him there.

Like I said in a previous piece, until we end our official relationship with the British monarchy, we will be bedevilled by these and other protocols. We might not like them but this is what we signed up for 60 years ago and still shamelessly continue to perpetuate. It is disingenuous to ignore these facts.

Therefore, we cannot be unmindful of what we need to do to once and for all end our relationship with the monarchy. In a curious way the death of The Queen has opened the door more widely for us to do so. Time will tell, but I do not believe that Jamaicans will be as well disposed or warm to King Charles III as they have been to Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is all we have known these 70 years. Now that she has died I believe this makes getting the referendum to remove the monarchy more of a done deal in the people’s consciousness. At least I hope so.

This column wishes the British people well and pray for the peace and blessedness of God’s favour on The Queen in perpetual rest.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storm, Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life, and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.