NZ visual diary - entry 72

Passing of the Queen - NZ flag at half-mast

It is a surreal but ultimately solemn moment to mark, while living as an American expatriate in a Commonwealth nation, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. And not just any Commonwealth nation, but one of the few that continues to recognise the British crown as its sovereign head of state. Unlike most Commonwealth countries, New Zealand is not, in formal political nomenclature, a republic.

I have spent the morning, while on a walkabout of Auckland's city centre, listening to rolling coverage on Radio New Zealand (RNZ). The depth of sadness amongst Kiwis is palpable. One need not be a monarchist to share that sense of grief, a sadness that is mixed generously with pride and love for the longest reigning monarch in British history.