Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96, Buckingham Palace announces

As a minor Anglophile who is nonetheless indifferent toward the monarchy, the queen has just been… around.

And that’s the remarkable thing about her, as a human: there’s never been a moment of my life when she wasn’t there, occasionally waving and/or frowning at something. Having now lived over half-a-century, I can’t scoff at her ability to persist, even though she’s had every comfort and medical assist. Just fucking living for 96 years is an accomplishment, and doing it with the world staring at her only made it tougher.

Fare thee well, old girl. Hopefully it’s a relief.