British expats from Brevard remember Queen Elizabeth II with fondness

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Gail Lightle was 16 when she left Southport, Merseyside, in northwest England, for California.

That was four decades ago. Lightle, who now lives in Cocoa, has since become a U.S. citizen. Still, she has a place in her heart for England, and for Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

"She was such a solid staple of England," Lightle said, "and she has an amazing legacy she's left behind. She served her country very well."

Winston Churchill was prime minister when the queen took the throne in 1952. She continued to work until her death, appointing Prime Minister Liz Truss on Tuesday. The queen's 70-year reign spanned 15 prime ministers.

"She is loved," Lightle said. "And she's like family to England."

Queen Elizabeth II:  dies at 96; King Charles III takes the throne

Also: What happens to the other royals under King Charles III and his new slimmed-down monarchy?

And: After Queen Elizabeth II's death, Britain is now facing the unthinkable

Adrian Cahill of Melbourne moved to the United States 29 years ago from Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The queen's death was a sad day for him.

"Her Majesty has been such a constant in my life," he said. "It's like losing a revered, beloved, albeit somewhat distant, grandma. Even though you know the day must come, you don't want it to."

Maureen Rupe of Port St. John is another British expat. Originally from Kettering, Northamptonshire, she moved to Brevard County 40 years ago with her husband Bob, a U.S. Air Force veteran who worked in the space program.

As a 9-year-old, she dressed as the queen for a Coronation Day street party in 1953. She won first prize.

"I really think that she is the greatest monarch that Britain and the Commonwealth ever had," Rupe said.

While a monarchy seems strange and exotic to Americans, royalty has great support in England, Rupe said, especially the queen.

"It may be because when she came to the throne it was right after World War II, and the country was pulling together," she said. But it's also because of the billions of pounds tourism brings to Great Britain.

"Tourists have to go to Buckingham Palace," she said. "They have to go to the Tower of London. New countries like this don't have that."

She does, however, wish that Prince William was stepping in as king rather than his father.

"I think Charles lost a lot of support with Diana," Rupe said. The couple divorced in 1996, and Diana died in a car crash in 1997.

"Princess Diana was very popular with the British people," Rupe said.

Looking back at the life of Queen Elizabeth II

She was popular with Americans, too. Just ask Ann Shelley Foster of Rockledge.

Originally from Georgia, Foster has no connection to Great Britain other than DNA, she said. But she loves England and she loves the Royals.

"It's just something about the pageantry," she said.

Her fascination with the royal family started even before Diana and Charles got married in 1981. She's amassed an impressive collection of royal-themed china, books and other collectibles, and has made multiple trips to England during which she developed a knack for royal spotting.

She once snapped a photo of the queen during an Order of the Garter service and even met Princes William and Harry when they were boys.

"I was at Kensington Palace where they were living at the time," she said. She was sitting on a bench and saw two small boys approaching.

"I said, 'Don't I know you?' And William said, 'Yes, you do.'"

Reaction from the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Foster was surprised by the queen's death.

"I knew it was coming, but it was unexpected to me," she said, especially since the queen was still on duty earlier in the week.

"I'm so glad she made it to the 70th Jubilee," Foster said. "She's been a steadfast role model. She promised to do her duty, and she did it."

Lightle plans to commemorate Queen Elizabeth with a royal high tea at Keep It Local Brevard, a wine bar and cafe she owns in Cocoa Village.

"I've got all the beautiful teapots and china," she said.

Rupe already has had her own quiet memorial.

Though Rupe became a U.S. citizen 45 years ago, she's maintained strong ties to her native country. She was president of the Brevard British Club, a social organization for other Brits, for 26 years. She jokes about guaranteeing annual trips across the pond in her prenuptial agreement.

Still, she's an American in every way except her accent. She was surprised by the emotional response she had to the news of the queen's death.

"I'll tell you what I did do today," she said. "It's something I have not done for 45 years. I was in my sitting room, and I had Skye News on, and the British National Anthem played. For the first time in 45 years, I stood up. Nobody else were in the room, and I cried. That's how it hit me. And I didn't think it would, but it did."

Suzy Fleming Leonard is a features journalist with more than three decades of experience. Reach her at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Find her on Facebook: @SuzyFlemingLeonard or on Instagram: @SuzyLeonard

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: The Queen Elizabeth II: British expats in Brevard mourn loss