King Charles III leads Britain into mourning after the death of the Queen

Outside the palace in central London, Britons and people from all over the world shared a sense of disbelief that the second Elizabethan era was over.

Members of the King’s Guard, soldiers who patrol the royal families, walked past. Until Thursday, they were known as the Queen’s Guard.

A large but quiet crowd gathered to pay respects and watch the history. The gardeners were busy mowing the royal lawn in anticipation of the days of celebration ahead. Many of the growing crowd were using smartphones and selfie sticks and were, of course, for the social media generation documenting everything they could see.

“It’s a historic day because the Queen is the only monarch most of us know,” said Darius Koenig, 24, a London-trained lawyer and singer, who carried flowers and said he couldn’t find a newspaper to buy them anywhere.

“I’m not really sure what I’m feeling, it’s hard to put into words. It’s definitely a day of collective grief.”

The changes in the king and prime minister come at a seismic point in British political and economic life, with many families fearing how they will bear rising energy bills as a cost-of-living crisis intersects with the Russian war in Ukraine and beyond. for the country to leave the European Union.

Charles met Liz Truss, just days after the Queen invited her to be Prime Minister. Each week the couple then meet with the prime minister for the king’s traditional weekly audience – and one issue is likely to take precedence.

Hours before the Queen’s death was announced, Truss told the House of Commons that she Your energy bills will freeze At 2,500 pounds ($2,900) a year to 2024, it was a massive intervention that would have dominated the national debate had it not been for the news that halted debate in Parliament – and much of British life for days to come.

Record inflation of more than 10% led to a summer of widespread strikes, but industrial strikes at Royal Mail and rail workers that had been due to take place on Friday were called off in light of the Queen’s death. Sports and cultural events have also been canceled and some shops have closed for 10 days of mourning in the country.

The Bank of England said on Friday that it would delay its decision on raising interest rates – a decision that could have serious consequences.

The first national crisis after Elizabeth is likely to be one of the worst in recent memory – however, you will spend the coming days remembering her contribution to public life.

Steve Kazan, 61, a tech entrepreneur who lives near San Francisco and is vacationing in Britain with his son Henry, 23, came to pay his respects outside the mansion.

They were on a train from Edinburgh to London yesterday when the news broke. “Someone shouted the news and waves of chatter went through the car,” he said.

“We were certainly impressed by the historical influence of her immediately. I sat across from a young student and said to her, ‘You will remember where you were on this day forever.'”