“It all happens because she died here, in Scotland. And who knows if it was accidental…it helps relations with Scotland and the unity of the country.”
I think a lot of people here, now, after these feelings, will change their attitude on this issue. In a pub on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, John and his family await the passage of Elizabeth II’s coffin, after his journey on one of the screens broadcasting live television. He is English, and he is here by chance and he is of the age of one who has seen them all in his seventy years of rule Elizabeth II The subject he is referring to is “the distance with which many Scots live in relation to the monarchy.” A topic that often takes on political overtones, it seems frozen for the time being, sure enough to be appropriately set aside in these hours of condolence with thousands of people participating. But not far from the wings of the crowd awaiting the passing of the Queen, 19-year-old Farah Khan waits for the bus, born and raised in Edinburgh and says: “I don’t really know of any monarchy in Scotland. Previous generations, perhaps…but we don’t feel connected. There is no connection,” he adds, “there is a distance. After all, she is called the “Queen of England.”
At a nearby Starbucks, two girls in their twenties are waiting for their coffee, each looking at her cell phones. They don’t want to be mentioned by name, they know what’s happening in the city today but they admit their “indifference”. On the other hand, Caroline belongs to the generation of these girls’ great-grandmothers and immediately said, “I am not a king. But when I heard that the Queen was ill on Thursday, I immediately understood that she was serious and that I was so. A feeling of sadness and sorrow prevails that I did not expect. I was amazed.” Because I felt that way.” Lindsey is more blunt and goes straight to the point: “The royals are neutral and equal, but in 2014 on the occasion of the Scottish independence referendum, the Queen revealed herself more than usual. Not many liked it. I think Charles wouldn’t.”
Shortly before the new King, Charles III, is declared King of Scotland in a symbolic ceremony on the Royal Mile, to confirm the contract signed yesterday in London in the presence of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Spark occasion and protest: Slogans praising the Republic were heard rising from among the crowd, while a girl held up a banner with the words “Damn Imperialism,” a solitary and instantly muffled gesture with the 22-year-old arrested for violating the public peace. The same traditional ceremony was held in Cardiff, with thousands of people in attendance, but two of them held a sign that read: “Not ours!”. As well as in Belfast, where Sinn Fein representatives were not involved, ensuring its presence at other times during the mourning period.
A few hours later, Elizabeth II’s coffin entered Edinburgh by crossing Queensferry Bridge – a bridge dedicated to her and opened by the Sovereign herself in 2017 – and then continued their way through the Old Town through the crowds: by the thousands, in respectful silence, they followed the aisle of the walk to which they dedicated a long applause. . There was no shortage of crying. Anne Black, who was in the front row, was unable to stop them from holding back: “An extraordinary woman, who fulfilled her promise at age 25, to serve the British people. I’m here to say thank you,” she told ANSA. To see the procession up close, I set off early in the morning from Ayrshire, not far from Glasgow. A young mother from Edinburgh also brought her daughters to greet the Queen: “A special moment. We are fortunate to live here in Edinburgh so we were able to attend this event.”
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