WESTMONT, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Britons in the Philadelphia area and around the world are processing news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Howard Silverstone, 62, is a forensic accountant who was born in London and moved to the U.S. in 1985. He said the woman who had been queen for the last 70 years was a fixture in British culture.
“Her name and her mark is everywhere. For everybody my age and younger and a little older, this is the only person we've ever known in this role,” said Silverstone, who lives in Cherry Hill, N.J.
Silverstone himself received a royal honor in 2018 for his service to British businesses in the United States.
Related
“I was honored in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Sadly, I did not meet her. But I was fortunate … she had delegated her responsibilities on that day to Prince William, and I met him,” Silverstone told KYW Newsradio.
“It's somewhat indescribable to arrive at Buckingham Palace with an invitation and be taken into a room and be briefed by one of her senior people as to how you conduct yourself at the ceremony,” he added. “It was actually a little overwhelming.”
Silverstone, in an interview at his office in Westmont, noted that the royal family and his native country are now experiencing a range of emotions.
“Not only do they have to plan for a funeral, but then they have to plan for a ceremony for a coronation. So it's kind of bittersweet,” he said.
Related
“Charles has been trained for this role since he was born. And certainly in the last few years, [now-King] Charles [III] has taken over many of her roles and responsibilities, so he won't be uncomfortable doing it.”
The queen’s death comes at a difficult time for Britain, Silverstone said.
“Between what's happening in Eastern Europe right now and the energy crisis, and just having a brand new prime minister, and facing a winter where there's a lot of discussion about increasing energy costs, and how tough things are going to be for people. There's a drought, because they've just had one of the hottest summers on record,” he said.
“It's just something that the British people just don't need right now.”