Mark Stoller moved to Falcon in 2007.†He and his wife, Andra, both U.S. Air Force veterans, enjoy life with their daughters, extended family and adopted rescue dogs in Latigo. Mark savors the privilege of his wife and daughters being his muse for topics, people to meet and places to investigate.
We said goodbye to the oldest and longest reigning monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Having lived in England for three years, I have a vested interest in the change in royal family personalities.I watched the BBC live coverage of Queen Elizabeth lying in state. Of the people who passed by, two-thirds of the women curtsied, men bowed, or veterans with metals on their coats saluted; and others made the sign of the cross.People of presumed different religions and nationalities walked by to present a bow or curtsy as well to the Queen. I was pleased to note the level of decorum, civility and respect recognized throughout global society.Changing of the guard was its usual British meticulous nature. The commander would strike his scabbard twice upon the floor and the echo throughout St. James Cathedral would prompt the soldiers to take their places or exit with military precision.The Brits absolutely excel at pomp and ceremony. The passing of the Queen is the pinnacle of planned execution ó beginning with the coded phrase to announce her death, ìLondon Bridge is down.îAccording to the Guardian newspaper, the first plans for London Bridge date back to the 1960s before being refined in detail at the turn of the century. Since then, there have been meetings two or three times a year for the various actors involved, including a dozen government departments, police, army, broadcasters and the Royal Parks in Church House, Westminster, the Palace or elsewhere in Whitehall.Britainís commercial radio stations have a network of blue ìobit lights,î which are tested once a week and supposed to light up in the event of a national catastrophe. When the news broke, the lights flashed to alert DJs to switch to the news in the next few minutes and to play inoffensive music in the meantime. Every station, down to hospital radio, had prepared music lists made up of ìMood 2î (sad) or ìMood 1î (saddest) songs to reach for in times of sudden mourning.Known internally as ìD-Day,î the process is a textbook execution of events that included announcing the Queenís death to the public, a period of official mourning, and planning the details of her state funeral.D+1 ó A proclamation confirming Prince Charles of Wales as king was read at St. Jamesí Palace and the Royal Exchange in the City of London.D+2 ó The Queenís remains returned to Buckingham Palace. Since the Queen died at Balmoral Castle, Operation Unicorn launched to transport her body to London via train. A contingency for Unicorn called Operation Overstudy ensures if a train is not available, the coffin will be transferred by plane.D+4 ó A rehearsal for the coffin procession ó Operation Lion ó from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster while the actual procession will take place the following day.The Queen laid in state at the Palace of Westminster for three days, in an operation code named FEATHER.D+9 ó Before dawn on the day of the funeral, in the silent hall, the jewels were taken off the coffin and cleaned.D+10 ó The state funeral was conducted at Westminster Abbey and her coffin buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.Every detail had been intricately scripted except for whether new King Charles III is up to the challenge to serve with the same heart as his mother. He must win over the empire who views him negatively with Camilla, not Diana, by his side. While the Brits truly want Prince William, I wish Charles the best as he gives this whole King thing a go.
