Rest in peace, Queen Elizabeth II – Britain's first high-tech monarch
- Reference: 1662666286
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/09/08/queen_elizabeth_dies/
- Source link:
During her 70 years on the British throne, Queen Elizabeth II oversaw reshaping the monarchy from an austere, closed-off establishment into a more public-facing institution, both in person and via the use of technology. Her coronation in 1953 was the first of its kind to be televised, and she was an [1]early adopter of the internet, although it's reported she didn't write her emails herself but [2]dictated them.
It's hard to imagine but about 100 years before the Queen's birth in 1926, we were relying on messengers on horseback, prior to the invention of the telegraph in and around the 1830s and its subsequent proliferation – not to mention the invention of radio at the end of the century. At the time of her passing, the world is a much smaller place, communications-wise, and the official announcement was made by her family online.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. [3]pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) [4]September 8, 2022
Queen Elizabeth was never really supposed to be a monarch, but she was thrust into the job while in her 20s following the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 and the early death of her father King George VI. She ascended to the throne in 1952 and since then presided as head of state, commander in chief of the UK military and head of the Church of England. For those Brits under the age of 70 she's the only monarch the country has ever known, making this the end of an era.
She was also a dab hand at machines, working during World War II on the home front servicing vehicles with the Auxiliary Territorial Service and continuing to do so with her beloved Land Rover, in which she once [5]terrified Saudi King Abdullah by taking him out for a spin as a woman driver – and is the only person in England who never had to take a driving test. She also made her first broadcast via radio in 1940 offering comfort to children evacuated from London during the first Blitz of the war.
Despite receiving little in the way of formal education, the Queen took it upon herself to get educated and that included learning about technology. Britain was at the forefront of technological innovation in the early years of her reign and she had a keen interest in the way things were progressing, and in particular adored Concorde, even apparently [6]imitating its landing sounds to friends.
On March 26, 1976, the Queen became one of the first heads of state to use email. The late Peter Kirstein pioneered Britain's adoption of TCP/IP and Her Majesty was invited to the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment to view the first introduction of the ARPANET network to the UK.
Given the username HME2 (Her Majesty, Elizabeth II) by Kirstein, she logged in and sent an email with the signature Elizabeth R. Kirstein recalled that the text was prewritten and – given the topic – that's understandable, though it was a historic step.
"This message to all ARPANET users announces the availability on ARPANET of the Coral 66 compiler provided by the GEC 4080 computer at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern, England," [7]it read . "Coral 66 is the standard real-time high level language adopted by the Ministry of Defence.
[8]Her Majesty opens UK Parliament with fantastic tales of gigabit-capable broadband for everyone
[9]Queen's speech announces laws to protect personal data
[10]Prince Philip, inadvertent father of the Computer Misuse Act, dies aged 99
[11]And then there were two: HMS Prince of Wales joins Royal Navy
Her husband, [12]the late Prince Philip, was less tech savvy. In an infamous case, his personal account on Prestel (a precursor to the modern web and internet) was compromised by journalists Steve Gold and Robert Schifreen, which led to [13]the introduction of the UK's Computer Misuse Act 1990 after his family's lawyers failed to get a prosecution under the Forgery & Counterfeiting Act.
Given the traditionalism that is baked into the royal family, or The Firm as she called it, the Queen eschewed online communications for official messages. But on October 24, 2014 she sent her [14]first tweet and in 2019 followed that up by [15]joining Instagram.
She was reportedly a big fan of tablet computers, having been introduced to those fondleslabs by her grandsons William and Harry. As someone who was born in an age where computers were room-sized, the speed of innovation certainly outpaced the institution she was born into.
Tributes have poured in, including from UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who said the Queen "was the rock" on which modern Britain was built; and from US President Joe Biden, who said the royal was "more than a monarch" and a "stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy."
Your humble vulture isn't a monarchist by any means, but if you're going to have a leader chosen by birth lottery, we could have done a whole lot worse. Regarded as the figurehead who kept Britain glued together, and provided the nation with comfort and continuity, she will be missed. Her son will replace her, as King Charles III. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2006/04/10/queen_email/
[2] https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/milestones-of-a-monarch-the-queen-sends-the-first-royal-e-mail-174855/
[3] https://t.co/VfxpXro22W
[4] https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1567928275913121792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
[5] https://www.vox.com/2015/1/23/7877243/king-abdullah-queen-drive
[6] https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/480653/the-queen-can-perfectly-imitate-a-concorde-and-its-the-funniest-thing-youll-ever-see-says-insider/
[7] https://www.wired.com/2012/12/queen-and-the-internet/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2019/10/14/queens_speech_includes_bill_to_achieve_gigabit_capable_broadband/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2017/06/21/queens_speech_announces_laws_to_protect_personal_data_and_crackdown_on_online_extremism/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/09/prince_philip_obituary/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2019/12/10/hms_prince_of_wales_aircraft_carrier_commissioned/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/09/prince_philip_obituary/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2015/03/26/prestel_hack_anniversary_prince_philip_computer_misuse/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2014/10/24/not_a_loyal_follower_of_britishmonarchy_you_missed_the_queens_first_tweet/
[15] https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-first-instagram-post-science-museum/
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: ta ta Liz
"Now, need to use these last three stamps while I still can.."
Royal mail is already changing its stamps to hi-tech versions. From January 2023 you will have to go through a process to get any unused ones replaced by new ones.
Re: ta ta Liz
I suspect the Royal Mint already has the designs for the next set of coins ready. At 96, I suspect a lot of plans where more than just "here's what we will likely need to do" and have been quite detailed, just awaiting set dates, for some time now.
Re: ta ta Liz
A "process"? Are not the stamps still worth what you paid for them? Seems a lot of work and expense to invalidate them simply because they have the "old" picture on them.
Here in the Land of the Free, we have "forever" stamps. Buy them and they are still valid when the rates go up (every year). Seems like a tough way to make a buck, though.
Re: ta ta Liz
IIRC UK stamps previously were valid forever - although I never worked out what value would be assigned to an "E" (Europe) that had a function instead of a denomination. Using the "1st" and "2nd" functional stamps as part of a mixture on a parcel were presumably valued at whatever the current rate was for that function.
The Royal Mail is now a private company. It actually tried to change its branding to "Consignia" a few years ago - then public opinion forced it to change back.
The new stamps have a QR code on them - presumably to replace whatever was invisibly encoded on the existing stamps for automatic processing..
Re: ta ta Liz
Hmmm... Shouldn't they have used a "QE2R" code?
"the availability on ARPANET of the Coral 66 compiler provided by the GEC 4080 computer "
More or less the box that ran (or tried to run) the Nimrod AEW that was such a fiasco, also probably mostly written in Coral66.
Known (IIRC) for a semi-hardwired scheduler, like the Alto.
But in the words of Edward Morrow. "Good night, and good luck."
Re: ta ta Liz
The 'process' is that the non-QR coded stamps need to be exchanged for stamps that have a QR code on them. The '1st class', '2nd class' and '1st class Large' stamps as they stand are all invalid from January onwards.
*sigh*
Re: the non-QR coded stamps need to be exchanged for stamps that have a QR code on them
This is true for Definitive (Machin) stamps. I believe Commemorative stamps will continue to be valid.
Re: ta ta Liz
The changes to the stamps are unrelated to the image of the queen that is used.
Re: ta ta Liz
She was crowned as I was conceived. Make of that what you will. She has literally been Queen all my life. Just a USAian who thinks she was the epitome of class. I'll miss her.
Re: ta ta Liz
Her reign started 3 years after I was born. My late wife reminisced about seeing broadcasts of her coronation on US TV when she was 10 or 11. (It was filmed live, the film developed, and then flown across the Atlantic for showing on North American television.) My grandparents were adults before Victoria died and lived over a decade into Elizabeth's reign.
Charles is 5 months older than I am. He has not aged well. Have to see if he lasts longer than Edward VII.
Re: ta ta Liz
"epitome of class" yep that sums it up. Born of a different class and although I had nothing against her personally, the institution is there to keep us plebs in our place! Now we have a head of State who is unelected and has interfered in legislation; getting exemptions from basic laws such as equal rights laws do not apply to the royal family and many other property based legislation. He is also given two poached eggs every morning and picks one to eat and the other one is wasted!
I am a republican (not the sort you get over the pond) but somebody who thinks that inherited titles are just plain wrong and that the time for the monarchy has gone. (and I have never forgiven them for stealing our common land all them years ago)
Re: ta ta Liz
I am a supporter of a republic, but I suggest maybe you should get a grip on reality
"Now we have a head of State who is unelected" As opposed to a PM elected by how many? Preceded by a monster who not only broke multiple laws but also did his best to destroy the law, from a party intent on destroying legal [protection of all but the rich and destroying the environment.
"and has interfered in legislation; getting exemptions from basic laws such as equal rights laws do not apply to the royal family and many other property based legislation." See above.
"He is also given two poached eggs every morning and picks one to eat and the other one is wasted!" As opposed to the Tories flying around the country and the for no good reason etc.
Charlie Boy is a far better person than any of the current mob in government, maybe they should copy him and get some decency and morals.
Re: ta ta Liz
Great, I've upset the incompetent ERG lying Tories.
Re: ta ta Liz
Anyone who has all the money to do whatever he likes and chooses to spend it shooting deer and watching foxes be ripped apart is not someone with decency and morals in my book
Re: ta ta Liz
The Prince of Wales website published the following back in 2012 in the FAQ section:
''Does the Prince of Wales have seven boiled eggs cooked for his breakfast but only eat one, as claimed in Jeremy Paxman's book On Monarchy?''
''No, he doesn't and never has done, at breakfast or any other time.''
Re: ta ta Liz
And let's not forget that if we get rid of the monarchy, who would be the head of state then? President Truss, anyone?
A 1996 IPSOS poll asked who should be president if we were to become a republic and the person who came out top in the poll was Princess Anne!
Re: ta ta Liz
I recall watching her coronation on TV (in the US). There were no high-speed links across the Atlantic ocean so they would film a part of the coronation and fly the film to the US. They developed the film in-flight. Different networks had different speed aircraft so flipping channels kept bouncing back and forward in time.
I remember how young she looked. (I was only 10 years old at the time) and how everything was very formal.
A very good Queen.
Re: ta ta Liz
Was surprisingly moved to hear she'd passed away. Her Maj will always be The Queen in my book.
She was a good one
She had a good innings. I might be one of the few that likes having a royal family. Don't know why just do.
I hope her last words were "Over to you Charlie son, don't fuck it up"
Re: She was a good one
I hope a few days prior to that, she told Boris exactly what she thought of him. One can hope... can't one?!
Re: She was a good one
And I hope she used what we use at work because its a word we're not allowed to say
"Boris, you're a 2868"
Look it up on a phones keypad.
Re: She was a good one
My eldest said last night that, perhaps after appointing Liz Truss to be PM she just gave up the will to live...
Re: She was a good one
Charles accession is similar to Queen Victoria's son Edward VII. A born hedonist - his mother deliberately kept him away from any meaningful exercise of royal powers even in her old age.
However - he turned out to be what the public wanted. He started the modern popularisation of the monarchy in his short reign.
Charles III will have a similar opportunity - but on his track record he could want powers that Parliament will refuse.
Re: She was a good one
but on his track record he could want powers that Parliament will refuse.
No he won't.
Charles knows exactly what a monarch is for in 21st century Britain and won't be rocking the boat.
Despite my low opinion of almost all of the current members of the Royal Family I don't think Charles is actually stupid.
The chances are high that he will be the best of the Charles's so far although that is a very low bar.
Re: She was a good one
Charles knows full well that the British monarch rules by sufferance of Parliament - enforced by exiling or executing those that disagreed.
Re: She was a good one
Let's not forget it was Charles and William who decided Andrew's fate, even if he was the favourite son. I don't think the position of royalty in modern society eludes him.
Re: She was a good one
"he could want powers that Parliament will refuse"
IIRC, there was another King Charles that didn't fare too well butting heads with Parliament.
Re: She was a good one
Yet in the end, once parliament had had a taste of Cromwell as King-in-all-but-name (his son even inherited the "throne", but to no useful effect), they decided in the end they were better off with Charles II instead.
Re: She was a good one
I like having the royals around.
To anyone who doesn't, I'd like you to think about two words: President Boris.
Re: She was a good one
Or literally, President Anyone. Having someone above politics able to fire the politicians if absolutely necessary is a very good thing.
(Which is what the President of most countries is for, apart from the USA and France)
Re: She was a good one
Simply transfer the powers of the monarch to the Lord Chancellor. Minimal fuss and very efficient... it'll never happen!
Re: She was a good one
I like having the royals around.
To anyone who doesn't, I'd like you to think about two words: President Boris
One other word: Tourism.
Re: She was a good one
There's a simple counter argument to the "tourism" case for keeping the monarchy: France.
The most visited country on the planet, who famously cut the heads off their monarchy >200 years ago.
As for the "President Boris/Blair etc" problem, easy fix: when the Republic's constitution is written, just make anyone who has been an MP ineligible to be President
Re: She was a good one
The Sovereign Grant is about £86m a year. Just the Palace of Versailles costs around €15m a year to maintain.
It's not the people who are expensive to maintain, its the buildings.
Re: She was a good one
think about two words: President Boris
Or President Tony? President Harry (or Meghan?!)
Let's just stick with King Charles, please!
Re: She was a good one
> I hope her last words were "Over to you Charlie son, don't fuck it up"
More likely "Bugger, I was hoping Charlie would go before me",
Re: She was a good one
I would like a republic, but I am afraid the electorate are too incompetent. IQ45 in the States and decades of Tory misgovernment in the UK.
Re: She was a good one
LOL. Toties are seriously sensitive about their total mismanagement of the country.
Maggie sold off everything she could to her mates and effectively destroyed the country.
1979: UK was sitting on a revenue bonanza from North Sea Oil, had a National Debt of just £80bn and owned all it's utilities, transport, infrastructure & millions of social homes.
2020: UK has £2.2Tn national debt & virtually no assets.
Capitalism and Thatcherism have destroyed the country and our kids' future˙
Re: She was a good one
No, we're just sick of foreign trolls trying to destabilise our political system.
Trolls like you are trumpeting propaganda for all sides, just to stir the shit.
If you have any respect for our queen, you'll suspend politics for at least the day after her passing....
> Your vulture isn't a monarchist by any means, but if you're going to have a leader chosen by family lottery, we could have done a whole lot worse.
Well said.
May she rest in peace.
It was certainly a set on fairly unusual circumstances. Edward VIII abdicating without any heir - and then no subsequent son of George VI to usurp her being the heir when he died.
Small correction, Edward VIII did not have an heir of his body, but his younger brother was his heir. And while unusual, I know at least one instance where the crown was inherited horizontally 1) , diagonally 2) and horizontally again to end up with a young person unprepared for it, who become also a very long reigning 3) and highly revered monarch.
1) To a younger brother
2) To the firstborn son of a predeceased younger brother
3) 70 years and 126 days, slightly less than Queen Elizabeth II
The royal heads of the countries in the UK have often been pragmatic rather than hierarchical. Sometimes political/religious moves - others decided by outright "might is right".
> I know at least one instance where the crown was inherited horizontally1), diagonally2) and horizontally again
Yes, well both the king and queen can move in any direction. They're not bishops after all.
I was and still am proud to have her as my Queen and Head Of State.
Somebody I know was given an honour and the investiture was done by the then Prince of Wales. They told me in private that they’d much rather have had Her Majesty. She outlived them by more than a decade.
Rest In Peace Your Majesty
Yes, that's one of the best summaries I've seen. Thanks, Iain.
A momentous and sad day. The Queen has joined Prince Philip. May they rest in peace together.
You have to admire that she went out in style - no drama - two days after publically certifying a PM handover.
ta ta Liz
Not a monarchist. Entirely and utterly respect the person.
Now, need to use these last three stamps while I still can..