When I heard the news of the Queen’s passing I think the first emotion I remember processing at the time was one of genuine surprise. She had been taken ill that day and her family was reportedly rushing to her side. The news was bleak, and there was a small part of me that assumed she did not have long left. Having said this, when I heard the news that she had passed away I was still in disbelief.

I do not know what I was expecting to happen when the Queen died. Maybe the world would implode in on itself. Maybe Buckingham Palace would fly off into space.

I am not a Royalist and would go as far as to say that I disagree with the current status of the Monarchy in the twenty-first century. I do not know what I was expecting to happen when the Queen died. Maybe the world would implode in on itself. Maybe Buckingham Palace would fly off into space. All of the options to me at the time seemed extreme, but what I was not expecting was the degree of television coverage and ceremony following the days of her death. Now that the dust has settled and King Charles sits on the throne, the week that followed the Queen’s death has cemented my opinion that the Monarchy needs to change to fit into today’s landscape more effectively.

I understand the need for the sheer amount of coverage that flooded our television screens given the magnitude of the event. I do not have any particularly strong opinions on the Queen herself, but I can recognise her constancy in my life. She was always there, on my television at Christmas next to her golden piano. I do not think there was any other way to signal the passing of such a significant Monarch than to put on such a grand display. But, I do not think that this week long parade around the country did the Royal family as an institution many favours for my generation. I think that it showed the disconnect between country and state that needs to change if the family are going to remain relevant in decades to come.

It is a symptom of the modern era that things must be televised. I have no issue with this, but I think it means that the Royal family have to pick a side

I think the main reason it did not work is that we saw too much of them. The fact of the situation is that a family lost their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. It would have looked more human if they had taken a bit of a step back, instead of being forced to attend services and shake people’s hands. I understand it is important for the new King to show his support in a time of national mourning, but if anything I think it dehumanised the situation and left the Royals in an awkward place going forward.

It is a symptom of the modern era that things must be televised. I have no issue with this, but I think it means that the Royal family have to pick a side. By this, I mean that in a time where we want to know every piece of information, the Royals have to either give us everything or nothing. They cannot sit on the fence, because the more they do the more people will start to assume things that are not helpful or true. The prime example of this desire for information resulting in gossip is Meghan Markle’s tumultuous introduction to the Royal family.

The role of tv was a good thing in showing the overwhelming love for the Queen

The role of tv has brought the family into the limelight more than at any time in my life. After this, they cannot be seen to revert back to their old ways of sitting in their palace and absorbing the scorn of the tabloids. They need to change their image to a more robust presence in our lives. The nation came together to pay respect to the Queen, but I think there are going to be lots of people looking to them now and asking how they get passed the legacy of Elizabeth. The role of tv was a good thing in showing the overwhelming love for the Queen, and whilst I do not personally agree with a lot of what the Monarchy stands for, I can unavoidably appreciate her commitment to the country at least.

I watched a lot of the coverage with my Grandad over that week. I found a lot of it unnecessary, but the Royals have to use this good momentum going forward and use television to their advantage. It is no secret my generation has a very mixed view of the Royals, myself included. I think the only way to proceed is to tap into our screens and modernise. The Queen gave a lot to our country, and in her passing, she might have gifted the Royals with a chance at revolutionising their ageing brand. It is up to them if they choose to take it, and it is my opinion that they should.

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