I just found out that HRH the Queen has peacefully passed away. One of my early memories from the late 50’s, is standing on the roadside among a crowd of people, waving little Union Jack flags as we waited for the royal car to drive by. The Queen had arrived to open a new bridge on the outskirts of Aberdeen. It all felt very grand and festive, with everyone hoping to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty. Tremendous excitement and expectation was in the air. Suddenly the grandest Rolls Royce limousine appeared and I remember the glimpse of a gloved royal hand waving behind the window. Then it was all over in a flash and the Queen had gone. A monarch’s life is lived with two distinct sides. One is as an outwards facing public figure and representative of their country, and the other is as a human being and private person. There is a difference between the two. Queen Elizabeth came from a time in history when there was still a modicum of separation between them. Gradually over time.. the world changed, and the outside world via the media had more ‘access’ to the ‘private’ world than ever before. I think she did an incredible job of staying on course throughout the extraordinary events of her reign and her lifetime. Whether you happen to be pro or anti monarchy, there’s no question that she totally performed her duties par excellence right up to a few days before her passing. I doubt that anyone can compare to her. Britain has lost one of it’s most outstanding monarchs, the like of which I doubt will ever be seen again. R.I.P Queen Elizabeth.