‘The way I see it, somebody’s grandmother just died,’ said the manager of a British pub whose Catholic family from Northern Ireland were not always big fans of the queen or the ro…
The Bay Area is nearly 5,000 miles from Balmoral Castle, whereThursday, but residents here felt the loss of the British monarch keenly, whether they were expatriates from the U.K. or Commonwealth countries or Americans who grew up seeing her as one of the few steady forces in a turbulent, ever-changing world.
But most know the great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria as the matriarch of the British royal family. Under Elizabeth’s modernizing leadership, “The Firm” has grown into one of the most recognized institutions in the world, even as anti-monarchy sentiment roils the U.K. and Commonwealth countries where the queen remained head of state. The queen’s power long resided in her popularity. Inof British adults, she scored higher than Barack and Michelle Obama, Martin Luther King Jr.
“It makes you feel a little vulnerable, even if you’re not a fan of the British monarchy,” added Picetti, who is American. For Cyril Hackett, born in the Republic of Ireland, Elizabeth was not his sovereign, but the San Francisco Kezar Pub owner also is sad to see her go. He came to San Francisco in the 1980s to escape the Troubles and find better work in America, so when he saw that the queen visited Ireland in 2011, he developed newfound respect for her.
“Let’s be honest, Prince — or King — Charles isn’t the most popular person,” Hackett said. “He’s got big shoes to fill. I can’t imagine people will love him like they loved the queen.”
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