黄色电影

Clara Martinez

K2 Teacher John O鈥橳oole stands with one of many Queen Elizabeth II poster portraits hung in his classroom. O鈥橳oole attended the Queen鈥檚 lying-in-state ceremony Sept. 16 and spent the 10-day mourning period following her death reflecting on previous encounters with the Queen.

The final time K2 Teacher John O鈥橳oole saw Queen Elizabeth II, she waved from the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2022. O鈥橳oole said he had camped the night before in hopes of seeing the queen during her Platinum Jubilee 鈥淭rooping the Colour鈥� procession to celebrate 70 years on the throne.聽

鈥淚 had to fight back the crowd going down just to get a tiny glimpse of her on the balcony,鈥� he said.聽

O鈥橳oole said his love for the queen first began with an electronic encyclopedia articles about the royal family, predating the capabilities of Google search. He said he read a brief paragraph on her life as a kid and immediately 鈥渇ell in love with the queen.鈥澛�

O鈥橳oole said his first direct correspondence with the queen took place in 1977 when he lived in Massachusetts. He said he wrote a handwritten note to the queen for her Silver Jubilee, celebrating 25 years on the throne, and received a letter signed by the queen鈥檚 assistant, Lady-in-Waiting Patricia Abergavenny, in return.

Since then, O鈥橳oole said he has queued overnight along the mall leading up to Buckingham Palace to attend the subsequent Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.

O鈥橳oole said he bidded farewell to the queen after queuing for hours while she was lying-in-state in Westminster Hall Sept. 16. When he had the opportunity to walk past her coffin and crown jewels, O鈥橳oole said he took his third and concluding bow as a sign of respect for Her Majesty. He said his first two bows were in 2000, standing directly across from the queen.

O鈥橳oole said he had a short job at Buckingham Palace to help members of the general public who required assistance maneuvering around certain areas of the property. O鈥橳oole said he met the queen when she arrived at Buckingham Palace for her mother鈥檚 100th birthday and stopped by to thank the employees for helping others tour the grounds.

O鈥橳oole said he still remembers his eagerness when he realized the queen would make an appearance.

鈥淚 knew that she was walking around,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wasn’t paying attention to what I was supposed to be doing because I was aware that she was coming.鈥�

He said he can still recall the queen鈥檚 yellow dress with a pattern of petunias, a type of flower. When the queen greeted them, O鈥橳oole said employees stepped back to bow or curtsy.

鈥淪he spoke to us and asked if everything was okay,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 stepped forward to say 鈥榊es, Your Majesty,鈥� which was very exciting.鈥�

Given his connection to the monarchy, when O鈥橳oole heard the royal family was asked to gather at Balmoral Castle in Scotland Sept. 9, O鈥橳oole said he went home and 鈥渉oped and prayed鈥� as he awaited further news. When the news arrived of her passing, O鈥橳oole said it still came as a shock.

鈥淚 was devastated when it finally happened,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 still have a little disbelief.鈥�

Throughout the 10-day mourning period which concluded Sept. 19, O鈥橳oole said he has struggled to accept the news of her death.

鈥淒isbelief is a comfort,鈥� he said. 鈥淗er mother lived until 101, so I thought we had five years at least.鈥�

O鈥橳oole said the queen鈥檚 reputation and widespread appreciation of her reign extend beyond an audience of royalists.

鈥淓ven people who don’t like the monarchy I think give her credit for being an incredible woman,鈥� he said.

O鈥橳oole said his own admiration for the queen comes from 鈥渢he way she has lived her life as constant and dependable and serving.鈥�

O鈥橳oole ultimately said the queen鈥檚 legacy and impact on the U.K. has not ended with her death or the beginning of King Charles III鈥檚 reign.

鈥淪he was the queen that everyone knew,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen we say queen, that鈥檚 who everyone thinks of, and Charles doesn鈥檛 have that history.鈥�