HRH Queen Elizabeth II

Not spanking related but such a sad day for those of us in the UK and around the Commonwealth. The Queen committed her life to the country and was our longest serving and greatest monarch. She united the people and will be sadly missed. As the country goes into a period of mourning, we will do our best to support the new King.

Here in Poland people are deeply moved by Her passing. She was popular across the continent and particularly here in Eastern Europe. She was an icon the straddled generations and political and cultural epochs.

R.I.P.

I'm from the U.S., but I will say she was a great lady, the epitome of grace, dignity, honor, and respectability. For the first time in my adult life, if someone asks me what living famous person I admire and respect most, I'll be stuck for an answer.

I was born in the UK, raised in a Commonwealth nation before moving to the US. I remember being part of the color guard when HRH visited our small city. She took the time to acknowledge each of us, something I will always remember. Very gracious and honorable. She will be missed.

ewww the queen was a colonizer/ tyrant who ruined the lives of many countries worldwide.She is nothing to celebrate

Her Majesty was no colonizer or tyrant, and a loyal friend of Canada. I shall miss her. God save the King.

Jamie14 - this is a very curious comment. I wonder if you could elaborate. Even if one assumes the Queen Elizabeth II had any control over British colonial policy, I cannot think of any country that was colonised during her reign. In fact, the last 70 years have been a period of unprecedented decolonisation which saw the dismemberment of the British Empire. She also appears to have been personally well respected in most Commonwealth countries (and even in at least one that did not join the Commonwealth), so she can not have been too much of a tyrant.

With respect, Jamie, your post is not a great advert for the standard of history teaching in Canada (or perhaps your attentiveness in class?). The British monarch was stripped of most of his/her power in the 1650's, about 370 years ago, before Britain embarked on its imperial project. Any colonising or tyranny that happened was conducted by commercial and military forces - yes, in the name of the monarch (mostly Queen Victoria, 1836-1901), but not necessarily approved or sanctioned by him/her. In the 20th century, British monarchs stayed firmly clear of politics (and the one who didn't - the nazi collaborator Edward 8th - was no longer King by then).

One of the few occasions in her 70-year reign when the late Elizabeth II did allow herself to stray into the realm of politics was in 1986 when the Prime MInister Margaret Thatcher refused to join the other 48 Commonwealth countries in imposing sanctions (like those on Putin right now) on the apartheid South African regime. Elizabeth was subsequently on first name terms with Nelson Mandela who admired her greatly - hardly a likely endorsement for an imperialist tyrant.

I have personally seen what her atrocities has done the Caribbean especially when alot had to fight for their independence, look at what happened in India (Partition), The suffering in Yemen, Prince Andrew, the torturing of freedom fighters like Muthoni Mategne in Kenya. Her crown has a 400 million dollar diamond called the great star of Africa she stole while ppl are dying.If you need proof of what i am saying please read this article --> https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/queen-elizabeth-colonial-past-d ivides-opinion-on-legacy-3942838

Could I again ask you to elaborate? I was unaware that any of the Caribbean countries had to fight for independence, so your personal experiences would be interesting.
As regards the link you provide as 'proof' - this would appear to be an opinion piece by a Kenyan journalist picking up on a statement by a South African opposition party (EFF) taking the opportunity to launch an attack on the monarchy and imperialism in general, rather than Elizabeth in particular, The only things they mention that took place during her reign were the Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s and Yemen in 1960s, over which, as the EnglishMaster points out, she would not have had much influence. I do not wish to be seen as attempting to defend either the monarchy or imperialism, but if you must have a monarch as a head of state I thought she did a pretty good job - much better than some of the governments she had to preside over, or some presidents elected in other countries.