She sure went fast. When I woke up, the radio was reporting that she was ill. By 11 o'clock, they were announcing she'd passed.

My mom met her, however briefly, in 1971 when the Queen came through for the centennial of BC's entry into Confederation. The Royals toured Selkirk College where my mom worked.

The closest I ever got was about 15 years ago, I was dating an English girl. Both she and Prince William attended the same University and he had made several plays at her.

I honestly have no opinion on the Royals. I can be a bit of a traditionalist so I don't outright despise them like some do. Though it's never been fully explained to me, somehow we here in Canada pay more to the Queen than in any of the other commonwealth nations. Would be nice if that could stop. Canada is slowly becoming a 3rd-world country.