Yeah. It feels weird honestly without the Queen. Speaking as an American, she was such an omnipresent figure on the British and world stage. It almost felt like she was an institution that had been there since time immemorial. I know everyone made jokes about her being immortal, but for her to suddenly die like this was quite shocking to me.
I mean she did recover from Covid despite her advanced age. Though I'm not surprised that her health took a turn for the worst after Prince Philipp passed away. Its pretty common for one person to lose heart and die not long after their spouse passes. They're filled with grief and it eats away at them.
I actually noticed a similar thing with my grandmother actually. After my grandfather passed, she was inconsolable and then like 8 months later her health took a turn for the worst and she followed him to the grave.
I mean I'm not really a monarchist. I more or less respect it as a legitimate institution worthy of existing alongside republics and other forms of government. The fact that its lasted so long and in various forms, demands respect in and of itself.
Though I'm far from a British expert though lol.
As far as I understand the monarchy, its more of a symbol of long-standing political and socio-cultural continuity with the Crown personifying British/English traditions going back over 1,000 years as a contiguous institution. In this regard its occupied the niche that the Japanese monarch had.
Though honestly I feel that some of the controversy directed towards Prince King Charles III is a bit unwarranted (I'm not talking about the stuff about Dianna). I get that the monarch is supposed to be apolitical, but people lost their crap when Charles said some arguably non-controversial things. Things like talking about how soul-less modern architecture is compared to old historical designs shouldn't be the things that get people upset.
And considering how feckless Parliament has been with how they're running the country into the ground, I honestly wish that the Monarch would actually exercise some of its power or influence to arrest such a decline. If you look at the modern UK a lot of its old cultural institutions are degrading. Anglican Theology for example has become a mess with the Church looking more likely that its going to die out in terms of membership and adherents. The recent progressive lurching of the church has caused a schism as well.