By now, you91裸聊视频檝e heard the news. Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died on Thursday at the age of 96.

Her reign lasted more than 70 years, beginning in February of 1952, meaning she was the only monarch most Britons (and Canadians) had ever known.

Her loss is felt by many, and in many different ways.

CP called her a 91裸聊视频渟ymbol of stability in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and embarrassing dysfunction in her own family.91裸聊视频�

British Prime Minister Liz Truss, appointed by the queen just 48 hours earlier, pronounced the country 91裸聊视频渄evastated91裸聊视频� and called Elizabeth 91裸聊视频渢he rock on which modern Britain was built.91裸聊视频�

The tributes rolled in, with the prevailing sentiment being, regardless of how folks felt about the monarchy, the queen did indeed personify dignity and grace.

For me, without the queen, the institution itself doesn91裸聊视频檛 hold much value anymore, for a variety of reasons.

But I91裸聊视频檒l miss the phone calls.

My family on my mum91裸聊视频檚 side is rather British.

I grew up on 91裸聊视频楢ll in the Buses91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频楤enny Hill91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频楳onty Python91裸聊视频�.

My Nana always had an endless supply of licorice allsorts, Lyle91裸聊视频檚 Golden Syrup and made the best Yorkshire pudding.

When I phoned her, I didn91裸聊视频檛 say 91裸聊视频渉ello91裸聊视频漮r 91裸聊视频渉i91裸聊视频� like a normal human, I often said 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频檃llo, 91裸聊视频檕w91裸聊视频檚 your budgie?91裸聊视频� (long story).

Nana is the source of two of my three Queen Elizabeth stories.

The queen and I share a birthday, so every year on our special day, she used to call me and offer her best wishes.

As a very young man, this delighted me to no end.

91裸聊视频淭he queen is calling me!91裸聊视频�

The calls delighted me more even after I figured out it was my cheeky Nana on the other end of the call, using her fine impersonation skills to convince me I was sharing a moment with a monarch.

Those calls continued well into my adulthood, until my Nana91裸聊视频檚 passing. But I nonethless perpetuated the tradition after becoming a dad, reminding everyone in earshot that the queen now had my cellphone number and never forgot to call.

The calls may now be no more, but the joy will remain.

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Story No. 2 involving Nana and the queen (I always imagined her being a sweet grandmother like my own) I don91裸聊视频檛 remember myself, but it took on a life of its own over the years.

When I was a toddler, Queen Elizabeth visited Victoria. Of course, my Mum and Nana had to go see her in public, with tiny me in tow. There was some sort of cannons firing or a 21-gun salute for the queen, but this made wee me cry. Nana, not missing a beat, pretended to be shot, made some funny faces and noises and, in front of hundreds of folks and visiting royalty, rolled down the hill to make me laugh. I did. Fortunately, she didn91裸聊视频檛 get carted away.

Story No. 3: I was taking photos at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. I was near the entrance to the stadium track when a security fellow told me to stop and remain where I was. The queen, in the back of a convertible, was on her way in. The procession stopped directly in front of me. The queen (the queen!) was basically an arm91裸聊视频檚 length away. I froze. She said 91裸聊视频渉ello91裸聊视频�. I bowed my head and said 91裸聊视频渉ello, Your Majesty.91裸聊视频�

Nana listened proudly as I recounted the tale, though she didn91裸聊视频檛 buy my assertation that I was invited for high tea with my new best friend after the ceremony.

RIP to the queen. I cherish the stories.

PQB News/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf welcomes your questions, comments and story ideas. He can be reached at 250-905-0029, via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or on Twitter .

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