The Queen's husband has died, peacefully in his sleep. He had a long and full life, just short of a century-long by a couple of months. Well done, Sir, may you rest in peace.
But WHY was it necessary to have the BBC TV broadcast hours of exactly the same details of his life on BOTH channels? The ITV also did virtually the same, all day and night. Why? He was of the Royal Family, yes, but he wasn't the King. He was a nice enough fellow and did his job well, generally speaking, but that was about it, in my honest opinion.
I was 17 when King George VI died in 1952. That radio announcement came as a real shock to me then. Quite hard to take in on that day. It was almost as though my own father had passed away! It shook me so badly at the time, having so many memories of the King during the war, the way the family stayed with us during that terrible time. I was deeply saddened.
Yesterday's news had nothing like the 1952 news. I suppose we were all expecting it after seeing how ill Prince Philip looked on his final journey home by car a few days ago. Yes, it's always sad when somebody dies, but at his advanced age it's not unusual.
So, condolences to the Royal Family, especially the Queen, life goes on. Except for the radio and television people. They grab these "breaking news" announcements and treat them as though the end of the world has come.
Give me strength!
