Queen Elizabeth’s enduring legacy is the sense of duty that King Charles has already displayed
sir – I was astonished and inspired by the composure and stoicism of King Charles, so soon after his beloved mother’s death.
The legacy of her sense of duty will surely endure.
Cameron Morice
Reading, Berkshire
sir – In no other profession is someone who has witnessed the death of his mother less than 48 hours previously expected to assume a new role immediately and carry on, hardly having time to draw breath.
A tough job, but, as demonstrated by King Charles on Saturday, one that he is more than able to take on.
God save the King.
Marilyn Parrott
Altrincham, Cheshire
sir – My wife and I had the honour of being introduced to the then Prince of Wales in 2001, when invited to a private view to mark the opening of an exhibition by the artist Emma Sergeant, held at the Prince’s Foundation in east London.
After shaking hands, he asked me whether I knew a person that he mentioned and when I said no, he responded by telling us of a situation he had witnessed, which involved this person at a similar event and which he had found hilarious.
This showed that he had a sense of humour and the ability to put people at ease immediately, as did his mother, our much beloved Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles served a very long apprenticeship for the role of Head of State and I firmly believe he is well equipped to follow in the steps of his mother in serving this country.
Long live King Charles III.
John Weaver
Woodbridge, Suffolk
sir – Queen Elizabeth II is probably the only statesman ever to make a promise and keep it to the very end. What an example for us all to follow.
Tim Sharp
Chirnside, Berwickshire
sir – Queen Elizabeth made Britain great in the eyes of the world.
Dr Paul WF Johnston
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
sir – I always knew I admired and respected Queen Elizabeth. I never realised how much I loved her till last Thursday.
Jo-ann Rogers
Alsager, Cheshire
sir – The recent sad events have emphasised that Britain is unsurpassed in pageantry.
Keith Ferris
Coxheath, Kent
sir – I have one wish only for Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral: that the television commentators do not interrupt the spectacle as much as they did during Saturday’s formal accession ceremony.
Phil Angell
Helston, Cornwall
sir – A special mention of thanks must go to Penny Mordaunt who, after only a few days in office as Lord President of the Council, found herself having to perform a hugely significant task not undertaken since 1952 and never before in public.
With the eyes of the world on her, she undertook her historic role with elegance and dignity.
Sandra Jones
Old Cleeve, Somerset
sir – On Friday I unexpectedly received a letter of condolence for the death of Queen Elizabeth from a Moroccan lady called Aicha with whom I worked when she was quality manager in a sardine cannery in Casablanca. Nobody can ever have been so revered and loved throughout the world as our late Queen.
Les Bratt
Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire
sir – How wonderful that, even after her death, our marvellous late Queen has bequeathed the extraordinary feat of bringing humanity together in grief. Charles Cooper
Southwold, Suffolk
sir – Like millions of people all over Britain, I hope the late Queen’s love of Scotland and the Scottish people will strengthen our Union.
Nicola Sturgeon wants to deprive us all of its historical, practical and emotional importance.
Camilla Coats-carr
Teddington, Middlesex
sir – This is such a sad time for so many of us. The memory of one small incident fills me with warmth.
As the new, and very young, Queen and Duke of Edinburgh came down the steps of the aeroplane that had brought them back from Kenya in 1952, I could see on the lapel of her black coat that she was wearing the flame lily brooch (emblem of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe).
It had been made specially for her on the occasion of her 21st birthday and was the gift of the children of Rhodesia, who had donated their pocket money. I was one of those proud children.
Pauline Last
Send, Surrey
sir – When my daughter was seven years old, Queen Elizabeth visited her primary school. She was lined up with other children, and, as luck would have it, the Queen stopped to talk to her.
Recounting the moment, my excited daughter exclaimed that the Queen had asked her some questions and “she was really interested in me!” I took the opportunity to point out to her that if the Queen of England could make a little girl of seven so happy just by being interested, then she, too, should follow that example.
It became a mantra in our household: good manners are about making others feel special.
Lowri Coulten
Boughton, Norfolk
sir – In November 1988 Queen Elizabeth was due to attend the reopening of the south transept at York Minster, following a fire in 1984. This service was my first big event as a songman in the choir.
After many rehearsals (involving a stand-in with a placard round her neck proclaiming “I am the Queen”), the service was magnificent, but I especially remember the overwhelmingly powerful feelings while singing the national anthem with the Queen mere feet away. It was a very special moment.
Gary Griffiths
Spittal, Northumberland
sir – Some years ago, I took a group of ethnically diverse sixth-formers to see a performance of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
As the second half was about to begin, a spotlight suddenly illuminated a balcony box to reveal Queen Elizabeth. The whole crowd, including my pupils and fellow teachers, many of whom were dyed-in-the-wool republicans, stood up and applauded the monarch enthusiastically.
This was the effect she had on people. I can’t think of many human beings who could have elicited such a response.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor, Berkshire
sir – I read in my 1952 diary: “The King died last night. The news was not public till this morning, and we heard at school and had a short service in the gym. We found it quite unbelievable. His reign had been taken so much for granted and it was so sudden, and now Princess Elizabeth is Queen. Still it seems quite incredible. It was a cold, crisp and grey day. Cinemas, theatres and the BBC were closed.”
Other comments that day included: “I received a picture of Gregory Peck for 6d. I tried smoking.”
Catherine Hayne
Codford, Wiltshire
sir – The cancellation of the Last Night of the Proms (Letters, September 11) saddened me. In 1952 I was at boarding school in Carlisle and when word came of the death of King George VI we left our chemistry lab and joined everybody in the hall where the chaplain conducted a short service.
In the evening we were due to go to a concert by the Hallé Orchestra and the pianist Lev Pouishnoff. This concert took place and we began with a short period of silence and reflection followed by magnificent music, after which we all joined together to sing
God Save the Queen.
It seemed right to share the moment with so many others.
Rosemary Smith
Leigh, Lancashire
sir – When the late Queen’s father, King George VI, passed away in February 1952, I was finishing my national service trade training at Catterick Camp. A gun was brought to the parade ground to sound a salute.
The following month I was posted to Korea where, in June 1953, I led the Royal Signals detachment at the First
Commonwealth Division Coronation Day parade. We marched past British and American Generals and the President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee. For most of the day the Royal Artillery fired red, white and blue smoke shells into enemy territory, to the bewilderment, I imagine, of the Chinese troops opposite.
Bernard Bowler
Leeds, West Yorkshire
sir – On February 6 1952 I was a Naval airman 2nd class, a month from being 18 years old and under training at HMS Gamecock in Warwickshire.
Awaiting draft, I was working in the communications centre. Suddenly the chief yeoman burst into the room with a signal in his hand. He shouted loudly at me: “The King is dead, get up on to the flag deck and lower the ensign to half mast.”
I was a bit wary of this order as I had been the butt of spurious errands to stores for sky hooks and rubber screws. I soon realised my mistake. So, up I went and lowered the ensign.
Fast forward 70-odd years. Last Thursday afternoon my wife’s daughter rang us and asked if I would go to her friend’s house and lower the Union flag in their garden. I readily agreed and repeated my actions from 70 years earlier.
On the way home I thought about the improbability of being involved in these two major historic events. For myself it was a unique double and an experience I and my family will treasure.
Bruce Crawford
Modbury, Devon
sir – In 1976 I was a Scotland Yard officer working with the
Bundeskriminalamt (German federal police) in West Germany when my liaison officer told me that as a junior officer 11 years previously he was part of a detail to welcome Queen Elizabeth on a state visit.
She was arriving by train and a senior officer suggested to my chum that it might be a good idea to erect a canopy between the main building and the platform’s edge, in case of inclement weather. As it was May and the weather was warm, the junior officer decided not to, but on the day of the Queen’s arrival, it started to rain – heavily.
The senior officer panicked. Now he said that he had insisted on a canopy being erected, that my chum was guilty of gross dereliction of duty and disobedience of orders, and that he’d be guarding the Brandenburg Gate for the rest of his service.
As the Queen’s train hove into sight, the pouring rain actually intensified. The train arrived, the carriage door opened and at that moment the rain stopped, the sun came out and the Queen, with a dazzling smile, alighted on to the platform.
“My God,” muttered the grey-faced official. “She really is a queen.”
Dick Kirby
Great Whelnetham, Suffolk
sir – I was born on Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday at 7am. As long as I can remember my parents would tell me that the playing of the national anthem at 7am on the radio on April 21 was to commemorate my birth.
I have never missed that 7am playing of the anthem, and I shall miss it in future. Fortunately my wife shares the birthday of King Charles III, so I will still awake at 7am, albeit on November 14.
Patrick White
London SW19
sir – What are crossword compilers going to do now that they can no longer use the many synonyms for the late Queen Elizabeth to indicate the letters ER?
Anthony Gibbs
Wilmslow, Cheshire