Matthew Lewis Instagram – This was as close as I ever got to Her Majesty. I, along with a few of the old gang, were invited to sit with her at the palace while we watched a little film we made for her 80th birthday. I think she liked it. Quite an honour for a northern monkey sporting a black eye, let me tell you. The second image is a picture hanging in my office because I’m a weirdo. Truth be told, anyone who knows me, knows me to be a contradiction. Everything about me screams republican (small-r, not the dreadful elephant kind). I think monarchy is mad, in this or any century. Even writing this all seems, frankly, a bit silly. And yet… and yet. For better or worse, so much of my identity is wrapped up in it, has always been. More so living abroad these last few years, and with all the “leaders” the UK has been burdened with, HM was a constant, part of an intangible sense (illusion?) of stability. I can’t think of much else to say, nor why I even felt compelled to say anything at all but I guess, after a lifetime of service to her country, I hope that she may now rest in peace. GSTK.