Our beloved Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. This little girl who was never intended to be Queen grew up to become the greatest monarch we’ve ever had. She was our rock. A symbol of female power, dignity and grace. She leaves a remarkable legacy. In England, we viewed her as the grandmother of our nation. She’s held in so much affection and love. She was a relentless force for seven decades. It cannot have been an easy journey, a life devoted to public service. To be scrutinized every step of the way. But she did it with decency and grace. Her devotion to her duty as mother and grandmother of our nation is an example to us all. Elizabeth was the spirit of Britain. An era is over. For me, who was born and raised in England, I feel the heartache of my people and my family of origin, who are still there. I’m homesick. Even though she was getting older, we thought she’d be here forever. May she rest in peace. The crown now passes as it has done for more than 1,000 years. God save the King. Xoxo Michele