As the nation unites in grief over the death of Queen Elizabeth II, MM asked the people of Manchester for their thoughts and opinions.
Bruce Smith, 24, Manchester
I suppose in some ways it was unifying that there was always The Queen at the top, throughout all our differences with the prime ministers we’ve had.
I’ve been in Germany for the past year – yesterday was our first day back in the UK. A friend of mine in Germany beat me to the news – he sent me a text message before I’d seen the news.
Karmina, 22, Barcelona
I like her more than the current Spanish king, but I don’t think modern royals makes a lot of sense. There is less drama and corruption than in Spain.
Barbara, 68, Manchester
It’s the end of an era.
I couldn’t believe how upset I was: I was a lot more upset than I thought I would be, I couldn’t believe it. For most of my life I’ve not been a monarchist. She was just the stability of the country.
Taylor, 74, Manchester
For most of my life I’ve had a lot to do with Girl Guides, and when you made your promise to The Queen it wasn’t really to The Queen – it was to the country. Whenever you said “The Queen” it actually meant the country.
Lorraine Ross, 67, Holywood, NI
I feel very emotional and very upset. You did know it was coming but it was still a shock. I always felt like the Queen is always going to be there, I can’t imagine not having her.
[The Queen’s famous handshake with Martin McGuiness] was a big, big moment, that went down in history. Also when she went down south and met Mary McAleese and spoke in Irish – that was a significant thing too.
I think [Charles] will be OK, I don’t think anyone will ever fully replace The Queen. I just still have a thing about Camilla, and that shes Queen consort – I just find that hard to take in. I think Charles will be good – I think he’ll really slim the Royal Family down.
John Ross 68, Holywood, NI
I’m from the other side of the community – I’m a Catholic and it really is heartbreaking. My dad was a great admirer of the Royal Family, and my great grandmother as well, you know the divide we have at home. Michelle O’Neill [leader of Sinn Fein] I think spoke for everyone.
We were in Cork just a short time after The Queen’s 2011 visit, and there are lovely photos of her meeting fishermen there. There’s no great love for the English state going back to the 1920s, so to do something like that was quite a profound moment. Without a doubt she was a great cross-community figure. She’ll be missed.
John Lawrenson, 80
It is emotional. I just signed the book of condolences and I didn’t have to think very hard about what I was going to say, because I just thanked her for the 70 years of duty to the country and the Commonwealth.
She’s a one-off, throughout the world, to everybody.
We’re from St Helen’s, we were going to visit the cathedral, just as a place to come and see. Iconic, but particularly today to honour the life of the Queen.
Andy Burnham did a great speech, he really did. He covered without any prompts, he spoke and he went through his memories, his personal memories of the Queen. Talked about stoicism, talked about duty. But everything was chronological. I thanked him and I said we’re from St Helen’s, but I wanted to celebrate my birthday.
This is iconic. This is a day – they said on television yesterday – that you remember where you were when you heard the news. We were sat on our bed. ITV. I think her name was Nightingale, the presenter, and she said “We’ve just been informed by the Palace that the Queen has sadly passed away”, having seen her a couple of days ago, shaking hands with that Truss.
Unbelievable. That summed her up – the essence of duty.
Sheila Lawrenson, 78
People just love her.
I think of Charles and say a prayer for him, because he’s going to need it.
Jeanette Stokes, 59
I just think she’s been a rock. She’s been a really solid, dependable foundation from everybody and I think that now she’s gone, things are going to change, which is inevitable isn’t it? But I think she’s just been such a solid rock and she’s set an example.
I think some of the most touching moments for me are the humour. When she did the Olympics stunt, and then the one with the Jubilee that even her family didn’t know about. I just think that contrasts perfectly with all the real, serious, amazing other stuff she did.
I just think she’s been an incredible woman. Incredible. And I think sometimes, if you’re in a difficult situation – it only occurred to me today – you think, well, what would The Queen do? It’s not a particularly bad way to think. There’s so much to say.
It definitely is the end of an era – but new endings come and they’re new beginnings. Hopefully, you know, it’ll work out. It can’t be easy for the family can it.
I think [Charles] will just have to do things his way and be different, but you can’t be like her. I don’t think anybody will be like her. I think she had to find her own way and I think he’ll have to do the same. He’s better prepared than she ever was.
Kevin Ashurst, 61
She’s been there all our lives. It’s a different time now than when she came… She was never planning on being Queen. I think she was 10 when she found out she was going to be Queen – what a shock! Well, you’re going to be Queen of England, but then she’s filled it better than anybody could imagine.
