By Robina Nansubuga Sekisonge
Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was the longest to ever remain. She served the nation for 70 years but unfortunately on September 8th,
she sadly passed away in Balmoral castle, her favourite place. The United Kingdom and the Royal Family stayed by Queen Elizabeth for
ten days before she received a state funeral. Queues of people in London stretched over 5 miles with over 1 million people waiting to
pay their last respect to the queen as she lay in the West Minster hall. Her Majesty’s death came just months after she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee where she was photographed with many of her family members.
Two days before her death, she had appointed the 15th Prime Minister of Great Britain, Liz Truss. During her record-breaking reign, the Queen saw her family expand with her own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by four children, 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. One of her children, Prince Charles, the eldest child is the new King of the United Kingdom and he will be referred to as King Charles III. The Queen’s other children are: Prince Andrew, Prince Edwards and Princess Anne. The new King, who is now 75 years old, spent all his life being trained by his late mother to become her heir. In the United Kingdom unlike in Buganda, the first born child becomes the King or Queen depending on the gender.
I got an opportunity to see the queen when she visited my town of Barking Essex. When she died, I witnessed a very rich culture and tradition of the royals in their time of mourning. The different colors, guards, the flute players, all the way from Balmoral in Scotland where she died, through her Buckingham palace in London, to London streets, then to her final resting place in St George Chapel in Windsor. Uganda shares similar history and tradition as we are a British colony and acquired the British culture, dress sense and of course, the English language, which we use.
My father shared the pictures of the Queen when she first visited Uganda in 1952.
Her lovely smile as she entered the kingdom of Buganda with the Kabaka Muteesa who was the father of our current King Kabaka Mutebi. In 2007, the Queen returned to Uganda for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM). The Commonwealth is home to 2.5 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. As a member state, we will always remember her quote below: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 21 April 1947.
All across the United Kingdom, the death of the Queen has brought mixed emotions as there are tears of sorrow as well as tears
of joy to celebrate such a great person who touched the lives of so many across the world. She was a symbol of love, peace, patience and unity.
The Queen was laid to rest on Monday September 19 and the day was declared a bank holiday (Public holiday). The queen was laid next to her parents, sister and husband, Prince Philip of Edinburgh. Long live the King!
Robina is 14 years, she lives in Barking Essexs (Britain) with her Parents.
