Any Republicans feeling baffled about their own response to the death of the Queen?

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I describe myself as a pragmatic Republican as I would like to see hereditary monarchy slowly phased down over a duration and proper objective time spent on getting the right model in to replace the Head of State. Definitely not an "off with their heads" now type Republican.

I also know that the alternative is not necessarily going to be automatically better so careful thought is needed.

However I'm 100% against a hereditary monarchy and I'm also an atheist so the whole belief system that they are anointed is meaningless to me. On a cynical level this whole well planned tour and proclamations of "King" Charles with no room or space to question anything could be seen as a state-led exercise in national gaslighting....

But................. I've been glued to the news, I've cried on a number of occasions, or had tears in my eyes, and have felt it (for some reason) deeply poignant that she died in her favourite place and her coffin has made that beautiful journey through Scotland.

I respected the Queen - who wouldn't. She showed dedication and committed to to her country and to what she believed until the day she died and sacrificed her whole life to it when she could have chosen to be a lady of leisure.

But despite respecting her, I never expected to feel so deeply sad. I'm so sad considering she was a grand old age. I'm so sad she lost Phillip and seemed to decline so much, and of course how she followed the rules at his funeral. I'm so sad her son (Andrew) turned out to be such a dick and caused her pain, and that she might never have known how much people respected her. I felt sad seeing her coffin leaving Scotland and thinking she'll never go there again.

Why do I feel so sad? Is it possible to be a Republican and feel this way? Does this make me a Royalist or just a human?

Responses from other Republicans please?

Human! I’m generally quietly Republican, but I was surprised how upset I was seeing the flag at half mast when it was finally announced on Thursday.

I think it’s perfectly possible to be against the monarchy as an institution, but still feel sad about the passing of a long era of history which we’ll never know again. It’s like the “long twentieth century” or the “long postwar period” has finally come to a close, and that’s sad and nostalgic too — right at this rather uncertain and unstable historical moment it’s hard not to feel like we’re losing a lot of things. It’s not an optimistic time right now, and the death of the Queen seems to underscore that.

No, not in the slightest. I resent being co-opted into this ludicrous griefwank.

I'm not much of a royalist but also not really a republican.

This whole debacle has massively out me off the royals. I'm sickened by protesters being arrested. It's like North korea.

More baffled about everyone else's reaction. Obviously feel sad for her family and friends, but beyond that it seems a little like mass hysteria. It seems stange that a family who most of us have never met and very few of us have any meaningful relationship with have such a personal impact. Feels a bit like The Truman Show.

Still the dc (who are more radical republians than I am) are looking forward to a day on Monday of relaxing as a family which I think broadly aligns with her values.

I have similar feelings to you except without the sadness. I understand the weight of history at this time, and the desire to hold on to traditions in an unstable world, and the feeling of change being difficult to manage.

But the monarchy as a concept is very flawed & their wealth is obscene.

I would abolish the monarchy given the chance but don't feel badly towards people who are grieving someone they have never met.

Lots of people like the structure, ritual and order that the RF promotes, especially in current uncertain times.

I thought she was good at being Queen but I hate ritual and ceremony so I guess it was never going to be for me.

I think it's the difference between how I feel about the monarchy as an idea (should be abolished) vs how I feel about the individual members. I don't think the role of queen should exist, however I also think that The Queen did that role very well and was very dedicated to it. I also thought it was lovely (for want of a better word) Princess Anne accompanying the coffin for that long drive.

Then there's also my general interest in the procedural stuff from a historical point of view which means I've found things like the proclamation and accession council interesting to watch, where did the traditions come from, what dates back to when etc etc.

So leaving aside my general dislike of the idea of a monarchy, there are things about the last few days I've found moving and interesting.

There are some good reasons why this system should be questioned but abolishing the monarchy wont make one jot of change to the big issues in this country, failing education, failing NHS, failing housing, and growing poverty.

Tbh judging by my kids and people on reddit, this generation will be the last of the royal family, it was a notification on their phone and nothing else. It will gradually become more irrelevant as the sentimental old guard die off.

I feel similar. As a pp said
I don't think the role of queen should exist, however I also think that The Queen did that role very well

I’ve been absolutely fascinated by the whole thing as well as being moved.

I am staunchly against the Royal Family. I expected to be sad about the passing of time . I am less sad than I thought, I am bemused actually about all of the ceremony going on. It does feel so intrusive on a families grief and I agree a bit manipulative. People love to be in on some drama

Ditto - I burst into tears when I read (yet another) news flash about precisely where her coffin now was (on the plane). I just can't reconcile my emotions with my feelings towards the monarchy.

Me too. Completely relate.

Absolutely not.

Great post.

I was a staunch royalist, but at the grand old age of 44, over the last 12 months I've suddenly started questioning the logic of it all. I think what really triggered it for me was listening reading Prince Philip's argument that the Queen's art collection was hers, to do with as she wished. At that very moment, I could well understand why he had to be smuggled out of his own country in an orange box.

As for the Queen, she was a lot less arrogant and infinitely more likeable. Unfortunately her son already appears to be presenting a tetchier, more impatient side, so we'll see how that goes.

If you insist on watching media telling you how very absolutely sad it is you're going to start feeling just a bit sad. Before you know it, you're ugly crying with snot dripping into your mouth because you saw a mouldy marmalade sandwich.

This is such a good way of putting it and exactly how I feel!

I feel such a strange conflicting mix of emotions:

• grief for myself at the passage of time/the country that this era has ended/the loss of a constant
• admiration for and pride in the Queen. But then so many of the traits are traits that I don't admire in 21st century Britain/wouldn't admire in anyone who wasn't playing that very specific role - stiff upper lip, never expressing an opinion...
• sadness that it appears the Queen had so little for herself and that even in death she is playing such a public role
• outrage about protesters being arrested (this I feel incredibly strongly actually and has cut across a lot of my other feelings today)
• irritation at important public services being cancelled / impact of this on vulnerable people
• a strong desire to 'do my bit' and support Charles... but also recognising the very sensible opinions expressed re it being a good time to reassess the monarchy (which I agree with!)
• incredibly touched and moved by the shared sense of national feeling
• enjoying the ceremony of it all and the sense of tradition/the wheels spinning into motion for a seamless transition
• almost excitement at being in a moment of history
• a sense that it's all a bunch of nonsense and why can't my brain go back to the things that matters!

To name but a few!

I think people don't like change. This is a big change. For me, I liked the queen. I feel like she was, and will be, the last monarch to take the role seriously and carry it out with complete conviction. She was also the last royal to marry royalty. Since then, royalty has become "diluted". Without that purity, what makes them special? They're now just muggles with fancy titles and entitlement. If anyone can become royalty, then what's the point. It's hard to justify it.

They had the same blood as the rest of us, you know! What magic ingredient, making them special, has been ‘diluted’?

I feel the same op. Dh (who is foreign) was taking the piss out of things last Thursday when I was glued to the telly, and I found myself shouting “Have some respect!” at him, only half joking.

I’ve always been pretty republican in my leanings, but the actions of politicians both here and abroad over recent years have made me feel that the Queen has been an infinitely better figurehead for this country, with an actual sense of duty, than any of the shitshow of elected idiots we’ve had in charge. And this makes me less inclined towards republicanism. At the moment anyway.

I may change my mind now Charles is king; the jury is out.

I think also, I’m grieving for better times. The Queen represented the 20th century. The future is feeling rather bleak at the moment so it’s hard not to feel nostalgic.

Nope, I don't feel sad. Don't know why. Just seen too many coffins that meant more to me recently perhaps? Happy she had a good death so no sadness at a life well lived.

I wouldn't be able to reconcile that either. Crying over the flight path of a plane carrying a stranger's corpse is really, really odd.

I think it's absolutely normal for Royals to marry non Royals and much better for their genetics!

Hundreds of years of inbreeding are not a good look.

I’m someone baffled by it all. The tv and radio are still wanging on about it. They’d make you think the whole country is mourning, but I don’t know anyone who isn’t carrying on as normal.

the media coverage is so over the top, I can’t wait for it to be over. And as for people queuing for hours on end, well, words fail me.