Recently the world lost one of its most prominent and respected leaders, Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom for the last 70 years. Born in 1926 and ascending to the throne at the age of 25, Queen Elizabeth was a global icon. Her dedication to diplomacy and her impact on international relations cannot be overstated.

Over the weekend to avoid focusing on the Gamecock’s loss and to show my respect, I watched some of the events surrounding the Queen’s death and caught a good part of the funeral and committal afterwards. I must say that I do not think like a subject of the monarchy, but I was very impressed by the pomp, the circumstance, the tributes, and the outpouring of public respect for Queen Elizabeth’s passing and legacy around the world. She was one of the most beloved and respected figures in my lifetime and she made an indelible imprint on the world. It is now up to Charles III to take over and may he be up to the task and show the same elegance and grace as his mother did.