Yet another icon of the 20th and 21st centuries gone, after the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 2016. Both are long-reigning monarchs who have dedicated over 70 years of their lives to serving their people. But this time, the loss is keenly felt throughout the globe.
I remember watching the funeral of Princess Diana on television when I was much younger, her premature passing serving as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life.
I hadn't expected the next royal funeral I'd watch to be a good 25 years later. Except that this time, it is to celebrate the lasting legacy of a life well lived.
The influence of the British monarchy goes way beyond the shores of the United Kingdom. Growing up in a country which used to be a British colony, I've gotten accustomed to how we do things the British way.
British English is the standard form of English used here (although American English has increasingly been accepted and has even occasionally made its way into official media), British place and road names are commonplace here (even Balmoral, the late Queen's place of choice for her last days, is also a familiar name to many Singaporeans), the fact that we drive on the left side of the road with right-drive hand vehicles, differing from 70% of the world, and even down to the fact that the scripts for our national secondary and post-secondary examinations are still being sent to the UK to be marked, right till this day. This is testament to the strong ties that we maintain with our former colonial master, despite having been an independent republic for the past 57 years.
Did I also mention that Singaporeans living in the UK could vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum, just by virtue of being a citizen of a Commonwealth country?
When the late Queen acceded to the throne in 1952, we still flew the flag of the Crown Colony of Singapore. When her reign finally ended in 2022, we have transformed into a thriving metropolis flying our own national flag. As for whether the monarchy is still relevant in today's society, is a story for another day.
What a spectacular seven decades it has been. Thank you, and rest in peace, Her Majesty.
Image credit: BBC News
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