Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is over and we are here to do what the English do on a national holiday, and also on weekdays after 4pm. We went for a pint (which means a big sized beer).
In the pub “Princess of Wales” in London, the funeral is broadcast on television. Almost nobody wants to talk, after all, they’ve had a few drinks, but the group we called suggests the friends next door are Scottish.
Nicola (“Nikki”) is younger. She lives in Cambridge but is from Glasgow. In the first three seconds of the interview, he could no longer control the emotion of remembering “the most amazing experience ever”.
Mother Mary comes to save her daughter. He says the Queen is wonderful and there will be no one like her.
The conversation develops into the obvious. But don’t the Scots feel resentful and want independence? The answer fills the bar, a “noooo” round and the smile of someone who was already waiting for this conversation.
Nicola says that Queen Elizabeth II is the most famous figure in Scotland and that it was no coincidence that she died in Balmoral, her favorite castle, where she spent most of her time with her dogs and driving her jeep through the property.
Grace interrupts the conversation to order two pounds of her next drink. And she can’t resist joining the commentators committee.
Swear to all of us that Scotland will never be independent.
Nicola says that when they voted in the referendum, “they said it would only be one time.” So there is no room for a new referendum.
The mother assures that this will not happen in her life. Nicci corrects: “Never.” never resounding.
And Charles III? Nicolas loves it. But Grace, the eldest, does not agree. Nicola says he must have time to grieve.
I ask how it would be like a king. Mary says that he will not rule for long and that he will abdicate the throne to his son William. It is also absolute and this is ‘unacceptable in the UK’. So shouldn’t Camila be a queen, we ask? Mary says no. For her, it’s William and Kate’s turn, and they are both adorable – and here they all agree and smile a lot.
“Everyone loves William and Kate,” says Nikki. “Everyone wants them, but not now. The economy is terrible all over the world, but William will fix it.”
He asks me again from which country I am. It’s the third time, the interview partners laugh. I explain that Portugal has not had a monarchy for over 100 years, which seems absurd to this Scottish woman.
That’s when Grace explained that Princess Diana taught her children to be closer to people. He asks, “I’m not saying Carlos doesn’t take this any further. But would you like to start a business at 74?”. We’re back: “Do you like it?” “Noooo” and the bar size is gaining a few decibels more and some laughs. “So it is time to let the young people take care of the monarchy,” says a very assertive Grace.
As we speak, the two minutes of silence from the funeral are repeated on TV – and only the three Scots are moving the pub in that moment – we hear ceremonies chant and drinks continue to circulate.
So we look at the future of the UK at the bottom of a pint of glass.
