Queen Elizabeth: Palm Beachers reflect on an 'extraordinary' woman

As word spread that Queen Elizabeth II had died Thursday, Palm Beachers reflected on the life and times of the woman who had spent 70 years on the throne to become Britain's longest-serving monarch.

Her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, 73, immediately became king upon her death, and will be known as King Charles III. His wife became Queen Consort Camilla.

Palm Beacher Tom Quick was at Dumfries House in Scotland on Thursday as a guest of the soon-to-be king and queen consort when word came that the queen, who was 96, was ailing.

Quick, a longtime supporter of King Charles III, was there along with fellow town residents Michael Donnell and Tom and Jeannie Rutherfoord. They were at  Dumfries House — which was saved by Prince Charles in 2007 and is run by The Prince's Foundation — primarily for the opening of a new printery complex, whose cost had been underwritten by the Rutherfoords. Other planned activities had included a walk in the garden and a black-tie dinner with the prince.

They were in the main house when they were told there would be changes to the schedule, Quick said. Prince Charles and his wife had left by helicopter earlier that morning for Balmoral Castle so they could be with his mother.

The staff were very concerned as they knew that he had been called back to Balmoral, where he had just come from the previous day, Quick said by phone Friday from his home in Ireland. "They knew that something had taken place. We were asked to be patient and understanding of the possible change in schedule.

"We then learned that other members of the royal family were on their way to join the queen."

Quick never met the queen but said he has met other members of the royal family. Noting that parents are a constant in people's lives, he said her passing "leaves many people with a heavy heart knowing we've lost a lady, in every sense of the word, that we'll never experience again."

About the new king, Quick said, "I think he will finally get his just due in terms of what he has accomplished in his life in making a difference in the lives of so many people" through his job-creation efforts and programs to boost self-worth.

"He’ll be a fabulous new leader," Quick quipped.

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Trump sends condolences to royal family

Former President Donald Trump, probably the town's most famous resident, posted on his social media site, Truth Social that "Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

He continued: "Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief."

Trump said he and Melania "will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was — there was nobody like her!"

Concluding his message, the former president said: “Our thoughts and prayers will remain with the great people of the United Kingdom as you honor her most meaningful life and exceptional service to the people.

“May God bless the Queen, may she reign forever in our hearts, and may God hold her and Prince Philip in abiding care.”

More Palm Beach residents react to Queen Elizabeth's death

Palm Beach real estate agent Rosalind Clarke — who was raised in Kent south of London but has dual citizenship and has lived in America for years — was shaken by the news of the queen's death.

“I think it’s terribly sad. Of course, all of my English friends are calling to commiserate and express their sadness,” Clarke said Thursday afternoon. “She was an extraordinary queen. I think in 70 years, she rarely put a foot wrong. She was so loved, and for so many of us, she had been part of our whole lives.”

Although Clarke has met several members of the royal family, she never met the queen. But Queen Elizabeth’s status as “an icon” was well earned, Clarke said.

“She was always very stable. You always knew she would do exactly the right thing,” she added. “She exuded a kind of goodness that you looked up to with respect.”

Clarke added that she and the new king have mutual friends.

“I really love King Charles. I think he will be a wonderful king,” she said. “He’ll bring new thoughts and ideas and will be wonderful for the monarchy.”

The queen was preceded in death by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, her husband of 73 years, who died April 9, 2021, at Windsor Castle at age 99, just short of his 100th birthday. He was Britain's oldest and longest-serving royal spouse in 10 centuries.

Queen Elizabeth never traveled to Palm Beach, although her late husband and some of their children and grandchildren made visits.

Michael Ridgdill traveled to England this summer for the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, just as he had done in 2012 for the Silver Jubilee. Ridgdill founded and is president of American Friends of British Art, a nonprofit charity that has often held events in Palm Beach to help raise funds for the restoration and preservation of historic art and architecture in Great Britain.

“No individual in my lifetime will have been so relevant, recognizable and admired as Queen Elizabeth II,” Ridgdill said. “She transcended politics and was a model of solidarity and stability in the darkest times of turmoil and uncertainty over the 70 years of her reign.”

He added that her “sense of continuity” was a steadying force “in a world of constant and often unrecognizable change, and yet she still adapted and evolved. Her legacy will be the model for which future monarchs and leaders can aspire.

“Particularly as an American, to have been in her presence and to have received honors from Her Majesty over the years, is profoundly humbling and something for which I will always be grateful."

He also marveled at the length of the queen’s rule.

“To think that a 25-year-old girl would suddenly be thrust into that position is just astonishing,” said Ridgdill, who lives in West Palm Beach. “She was a role model for so many, but she must have had a tremendous impact on the hopes and dreams of so many young girls.”

In response to the queen's passing, the town ordered flags at its buildings to be lowered in her honor.

Palm Beach interior designer Jennifer Garrigues, who holds dual British and American citizenship, was in Italy on the shore of Lake Como on Thursday when she heard of the queen's death.

“This gets you right in the heart,” said Garrigues, who was raised just outside of London. “That era is gone. I don’t think it will ever be the same. She was such an incredible woman — so stoic.”

She recalled being in London and seeing the queen riding in her carriage on the day of her coronation in 1953.

“My father worked in Trafalgar Square and had a wonderful office. I looked down on her on the tour she did in her gold, fabulous carriage. And I thought: How wonderful she looks.”

She added: "The world is a lesser place without her. Everybody everywhere will miss her."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Queen Elizabeth death: Palm Beach reflects on 'extraordinary' woman