What does the Queen’s death mean for UK and the Southeast Asian Community?
On the 19th of September, the people of Britain paid their final farewell to their Queen of 70 years at the state funeral held within the towering stone walls of Westminster Abbey; the burial site and the site of coronations for an innumerous number of past kings and queens. The Queen’s funeral procession was led by members of the Royal Family as they walked through the streets of London, where thousands lined the route waiting to pay their final respects to their beloved Queen.
While the Queen’s death would no doubt carve itself into the pages of history given the fact that it marks the end of Britain’s longest reigning monarch, there is also the subtle yet important influence her death had on the Southeast Asian community’s sense of national identity
Minutes after the news was broken – ‘BREAKING NEWS: Queen Elizabeth II has died’ – the painstakingly elaborate funeral plan nicknamed ‘Operation London Bridge’ was put into action after which followed 10 days of grand mourning rituals dipped in years’ worth of history and tradition – all undoubtedly fit for a king queen.
But behind the extravagant royal proceedings are a far messier truth; a looming economic crisis, unfamiliar territory, an unknown future and an uncertain national identity.
Given her 70 year reign, for many of us Queen Elizabeth II was the only ruling monarch we’ve ever know. She was Britain. Her grace, strength and the respect she commanded as a ruler collectively symbolized the power the British nation once wielded as one of the largest empires in world history. For the people of Britain, the Queen was in no way a glorified national icon; she meant stability, reliability and continuity. Her royal presence was embedded into every single one of our lives, from the postage stamps and pound notes we use to our national anthem where every note celebrates the land the Queen rules.
From the Covid-19 pandemic to Boris Johnson’s resignation, the Queen’s death was another tumultuous event that left a void in the nation’s heart.
People from all nations took to social media to express their admiration of the Queen of England and mourned her loss her death also served as an opportunity for us, the sons and daughters of Asian immigrants, to share with the world what the Queen of England meant to us; British colonialism – an institution that shaped the nations that our grandparents and parents called home.
While the death of Queen Elizabeth II leaves Britain grappling with their sense of national identity, for many Asian countries that were once colonies of the infamous British Empire the queen’s death chipped away at a dark past and turned out to be another step forward in the discovering our national identities since independence was won back
With King Charles III ascending the throne as the new ruler of England, UK and the rest of the world alike prepares itself for a new era, an unknown future, a fresh start and a new identity