anna.yhshih“Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96 on 8th September 2022.”
The breaking news showed on my mobile when I woke up on the morning of the first day of the mid-autumn holiday in Taiwan.
I wasn’t a big fan of the loyal family; I had no idea about them before I went to the UK. When I struggled to pay my bills and catch up with others in this changeable industry, I wasn’t interested in any story far away from thousands of miles.
However, when I lived in Europe and started to learn to slow down my lifestyle. I noticed many delicate beauty and heritage stories beyond, such as their tea time, Georgian terraced houses and unconventional fashion styles.
Queen Elizabeth II experienced dramatic changes from WWII to a digital society, and people now start wars again. She was a connection between a controversial tradition and the beginning of cosmopolitan liberal democracy. She showed her calm and stability in leading the country and her style influencing the fashion industry and British culture.
From her floral dresses to her off-duty headscarves and jackets, her recognised colourful A-line coats and same colour hats lately. Her outfits reflected the change of generation, society, a woman’s state, and her care for people and the environment. For example, she wore a bright green dress and turquoise brooch to show respect to the health and care workers during her annual Christmas speech during the pandemic.
She also used her fashion style to communicate and build stronger relationships with other nations. She carefully chose thoughtful details like colour, pattern, material or jewellery to nod to local culture when she visited these places.
The monarch style also presents a lifestyle and culture. I was never interested in history. But when I visited Windsor castle and Westminster Cathedral, I saw many stunning decorations and details from all the buildings. Mainly, I visited Windsor castle before Christmas, so there were extraordinary decorations for this event. That was really impressive for a foreigner seldom celebrating Christmas.
You can also find out how they prioritise their ritual from their thousands of tablewares or velvet curtains with delicate embroidery. These scenarios reflect history, culture and lifestyle vividly.
Even most people argue about the need to keep the monarchy or not. I was still amazed by the conflict between Romanesque-style cathedrals and high-rise contemporary buildings when immersed in this fascinating battle between traditional and modern styles. That is also one reason it attracts people from around the world.
When we live in an unpredictable world, honestly, these old things reassure us of peace of mind. Luckily, we still have these traditions and cultures as fertilisers for people to create and innovate.
May her rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022.
