Not a monarchist and don't agree with the concept but I would agree that by and large Elizabeth was an excellent ambassador for the UK on the international stage. Given how our international image has already diminished in recent years her passing may add to the sense of a declining nation that people in other countries perceive. Whether for or against, it is the end of an era.
She presided over much of the move away from empire and for a time we seemed to be on our way to a new identity but latterly appear to have become lost along the way. I doubt her son or any of our current political leadership are able to lead the reinvention we need as a nation. Arguably he is representative of the things that prevent us from moving on, but I would love to be proved wrong.
I am of the view that the huge amount of coverage and extensive pageantry will be less about mourning her as a monarch and more about seeking to maintain a narrative about the continued relevance of the monarchy. Everything is very performative at the moment, including some people's reactions. This is understandable as the main function of a monarchy in the modern world is largely performative. However, it will be interesting to see once the dust has settled and we go back to the reality of our current national situation, how much, if any, of a sea change in our attitudes to the monarchy there is.
