This last week has been an extraordinary time.
The Queen became Queen the year I was born and so I have grown up with her ever present.
All of us will have seen that photograph of her receiving the new Prime Minister, thinking she looked frail, of course, but there she was carrying out her duty as she always did. So it was a shock only a couple of days later to hear that her health was of concern, I think as the day went on we realised what was taking place in private. The pictures of her children arriving at Balmoral said everything we were dreading.
There are of course people who don’t agree with the Monarchy, and I respect that point of view.
For me this is a loss of a mother, grandmother and great grandmother for the Royal Family a personal loss of a much loved family member, who will live in their hearts for ever.
There is no doubt that the Queens passing has opened up so many wounds.
We are all thinking of our loved ones we have lost, and certainly my thoughts have been when I lost my own mum, losing your mum is something we know will happen but that void they leave within our hearts is never filled.
Our ‘living bereavement’ we feel as a result of unjustified estrangement, after this weeks events, has also opened up those deep scars of loss.
There has been an outpouring of grief, and the calls and emails have increased over this last week, all of our emotions are running raw, all individual, but with a common denominator, those utter feelings of despair.
Anyone who is struggling particularly at the moment, please don’t suffer alone.
We are here for you, you are not alone.
Finally, Bristol Grandparents Support Group would like to offer our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to all members of the Royal Family.
