Entertainment
VALE Elizabeth II – The World Mourns the Death of a Queen
The longest reigning and most loved British monarch in history has died at the age of 96.
BRIAN SOCKINGTON: The longest reigning and most loved British monarch in history has died at the age of 96. Buckingham Palace confirmed the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and the ascension of her eldest son, who will become King Charles III. The death has shocked people around the world, many unaware a Queen could die having never experienced it before. Her coffin will lie in state for four days in the 900-year-old Westminster Hall, only 804 years older than her majesty.
SANDY HOSIER: Millions of ordinary people as well as more important dignitaries from around the world are making their way to London to pay their respects to the monarch. Global leaders will meet with newly appointed UK Prime Minister Liz Truss for the first time, who was personally appointed by the Queen just two days before she died. Police are yet to confirm whether any foul play was involved, however Labour supporters and politicians are already questioning Truss’, suggesting fuel expenses and tax-payer dollars could have been saved had she remained in the palace until the Queen died.
BRIAN: Australians are also mourning the loss of their head of state. Prime Minister Albanese addressed the nation in a stirring and emotional tribute:
SANDY: What a leader. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on the other hand continued to accept no responsibility for an accident involving the Queen years ago.
BRIAN: So as the world comes to terms with the passing of Her Majesty, tragically taken from us after just 96 years, we take a moment to look back on an innings well played as they might be saying at the Lord’s cricket ground in London today. Here’s our tribute to the much loved, Queen.
SANDY: Ahh, we… might cross now, live, to Mable and Dorothy Cankle who are here in London outside Buckingham Palace to pay their respects to the Queen – Mable, Dorothy – how are you both holding up on this sad day?
DOROTHY: Oh yeah, not bad Sandy
MABLE: Yeah not bad Sandy
SANDY: You were both lucky enough to have met the Queen back in 1970 at a football match game in Melbourne, weren’t you?
MABLE: 1970… Yeah, that was Richmond and Fitzroy I think?
DOROTHY: Aww, great game! And the Tiges unfurled their premiership flag that day too?
MABLE: Oh they did, didn’t they?
DOROTHY: They did! You hate the Tiges though, don’t you?
MABLE: Aww, I don’t hate the tiges, but I love the Bombers
DOROTHY: She hates the Tigers, but they had a good team back then… You had John Northey, Frances Bourke, Kevin Sheedy…
SANDY: Yes – but ahh, what was it like being in the presence of Royalty that day?
DOROTHY: Aww, well I guess Kevin Sheedy is like footy royalty?
MABLE: I don’t know, Fitzroy had Kevin Murray?
SANDY: The Queen ladies… How did it feel to be in the presence of the Queen?
DOROTHY: Well, I remember I couldn’t see much Sandy. It’s a very big arena, you see
MABLE: I think you ducked out for a pie when the Royals came on?
DOROTHY: I probably did too, wasn’t gonna miss the second half!
SANDY: But, it was a special and historic day for all Australians – what was the build-up like for those of us who weren’t there?
MABLE: Oh it was just electric Sandy. We’d walk down Batman Ave it was called back then , and you’d see the MCG grandstands in front of you. We’d all been waiting all summer for the footy to start…
SANDY: No, the build up to the Queen arriving!
DOROTHY: I’m not sure we knew the Queen would be there? Do you remember?
DOROTHY: Bloody oath I do…
SANDY: Please tell us?
DOROTHY: Well I know it was Sunday afternoon, which was strange because footy wasn’t played on the Sabbath before the Queen came. But my priest assured me she wasn’t Satanic or anything and that it would be a sin not to watch the Tiges unfurl the flag… So I got in the car to pick up Mable and got stuck in traffic on Hoddle Street for three quarters of an hour… I honestly blame the whole Royal family for the traffic and for Richmond losing. Plus we missed half the first quarter! MABLE: That’s why you…
BOTH: got the pie at halftime!
SANDY: Well, at least it sounded like a pretty good game of footy… Mable and Dorothy Cankle there with some insight into the life and times of the Queen. Well, what more can one say about her majesty, the Queen, that hasn’t already been said Brian?
BRIAN: Absolutely nothing Sandy – So instead, we pay tribute to the Queen through the words of those who were closest to her – the rich and famous elite who have taken to Twitter to signal their virtue in 280 characters or less. We’ve shortened them further and removed capitalisation and punctuation to make it easier for our younger viewers to read.
BRIAN: A beautiful and very modern tribute, Sandy.
SANDY: It really moved me Brian, to know it’s not just regular people mourning today, but the important, rich ones too
BRIAN: Yes, Truly a sad day for all….
SANDY: Well, not for indigenous people Brian?
BRIAN: Oh of course, not for indigenous people, no…
