Queen Elizabeth II has died at age 96. She loved horseback riding, corgis and her British subjects. As it happens, she also loved soap operas. In 2003, she was displeased when then-President George W. Bush scheduled a meeting while her favorite soap opera, "Coronation Street," was airing. She took the call with her usual "stiff upper lip," and she did not give any indications of her irritation. However, some members of her court heard her fussing about not being able to watch her program, and a fan even taped the missed episodes and mailed the cassette to Her Majesty. One of her most prized trips was a 1982 visit to the set of "Coronation Street." When she arrived, the producer told her to be careful while walking on the cobblestone street. She retorted, "I have been practising for 2 weeks." Last year, she returned to the set for a visit amid a global pandemic that reinforced for many the value of entertainment in hard times.

At her Golden Jubilee Celebration earlier this year, she recalled how much she liked "EastEnders." Her favorite part was how the show made women look stronger. She related to that because, from the time she turned 25 in 1952, it was her duty to rule the United Kingdom. Elizabeth was very supportive of America. Before her reign, she was known as the girl who rolled bandages for World War II soldiers. Her motto was "Never complain, never explain." Her son Charles, who is now king of the U.K., is known for blabbing. Decades before anyone was talking about it, Charles was talking about climate change. He lived his own personal soap opera. His marriage to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was filled with strife and sadness. He was with Camilla while married to Diana, making so many people infuriated. In true storybook fashion, he and Camilla are still married, and now most of the British people like her. So, as the saying goes, "The queen is dead. Long live the king!"

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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