UK holds moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth
The UK will hold a minute of silence today to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen, the longest reigning monarch in British history, died on September 8 at the age of 96. Long a symbol of stability, her loss was felt throughout the country. Her son Charles, 73, acceded to the throne as King Charles III.
The Queen’s death comes at a stormy time in British politics. Liz Truss was recently announced as the new prime minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation. Truss will have to content with high inflation and energy prices. Her Majesty’s sudden absence is particularly noticeable in these difficult times, and her passing has renewed republican pushes in countries where the British monarch is the ceremonial head of state.
The Queen’s death has few immediate geopolitical ramifications. While her passing has reignited conversations about colonial legacy, reparations and the Commonwealth system, it is unlikely that any concrete policies acting on these matters will surface. Medium- to long-term, some Commonwealth nations—particularly in the Caribbean—may leave the system and no longer recognize King Charles III as their monarch. However, this will have no change in foreign or economic policy or lead to reparations for former colonies.
