A 70-year United Kingdom reign ended when Queen Elizabeth II died at 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, her country estate. In the meantime, Britain has begun a scripted 10-day ritual that only a tiny share of living people can recall having witnessed before. I am not one to remember times before Queen Elizabeth; so, to me this time is living history. Through the magic of modern TV, the world can all share witness.

Although my family has been part of America and its fabric since the 1600's, those ancestors came from England. My ancestry tracing has revealed the first members of my family tree arrived in the new world when James I was king. I've traced that branch of that family the whole way back to England in the 1400's when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. They were landed gentry. I've yet to follow the linage even farther back. Another member of my early family in America was a nobleman directly related to King Charles I. He left all behind to go to the "New World". I've yet to discover more of his story. Nevertheless, like with many Americans, England is in my veins.

Fast forward... During my lifetime, I have only known Queen Elizabeth II to be the monarch of England. To me, she represented everything British. She was an ongoing constant (for all of us under a certain age) in an ever-changing world. That was a constant most of us took for granted. It was as if she would live forever. Although the United States has never been under England's imperial rule, modern Americans have long shared a fascination with the British monarchy. To me, Queen Elizabeth II was "the face of" of England and a continuance of history... She gradually grew older as the years passed, but she was always there. There are few reliable "constants" in the world, but she seemed to be one. Now, that is gone.

Queen Elizabeth II defined a long and varied era. That era has now passed into history.
As do many around the world (both part of the Commonwealth and not), I feel saddened at her death.
Although there will now be a new king, I will always still personally think of Queen Elizabeth II when I think of England and the United Kingdom.

When I now think of Queen Elizabeth II,
I will also think of this https://youtu.be/7UfiCa244XE
And smile.