After over 70 years of reign over the United Kingdom, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away.

The loss of a monarch ushers in a period of uncertainty and a significant shift in power; here’s are some of what we can expect in the aftermath of the late queen’s death.

Upon the monarch’s passing, the queen’s eldest child, Charles Philip Arthur George, ascends in the line of succession and is proclaimed the new reigning monarch. His wife, Camilla, becomes the queen consort respectively. As announced by King Charles III, a period of royal mourning begins upon the late queen’s death, and will end seven days after her funeral.

With the shift in positions of power, senior members of Parliament will take an oath of allegiance to King Charles III to ensure the continuity of the government. Eventually, a state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, signaling the onset of a nationwide two-minute silence in the United Kingdom. After a final service in Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel, the queen will be buried in the castle’s King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside Prince Philip, who died in April 2021.

The ramifications of the death of a nation’s queen will greatly affect the United Kingdom and possibly, the world. Businesses close, the currency refashioned, transportation disrupted, and the national anthem changes as an entire nation mourn the loss of a leader. Although some of these substantial reforms will be implemented across the country over several years, the country’s economic uncertainties will rise due to the costs of the funeral— an event that will consume a significant amount of capital, which does not reflect well on the country’s current economic crisis. Furthermore, the queen’s death has impeded various areas of the British government, with legislative efforts postponed for a 10-day period of mourning.

While the queen’s death poured grief across an entire nation, it also revived criticism towards not only her legacy but also the monarchy itself. The conversations surrounding the issue emphasized the complex thoughts towards the queen as she may symbolize the British colonial empire— an institution that strengthened itself through colonization and oppression. Although the queen governed over the United Kingdom in a post-colonial era, she benefited from the monarchy’s colonial past, a matter they have yet to acknowledge.

Despite the complicated procedures that follow the queen’s death, the world continues to move. People move with the passage of time. The crown passes on to the next monarch in line and responsibilities are carried on to another and this time, the whole world watches as these events create aftermaths that may change balance in the world as we know it.

Article by Ryanne Halley Arayon