Royal memories of the Queen: Four county citizens say goodbye

Created: 09/09/2022, 19:00

By: Andreas Steppan, Veronika Ahn-Tauchnitz, Felicitas Bogner

“A great experience”: Tölzerin Elisabeth Fritz – here with a special edition of the “Daily Mirror” from 1953 – attended the coronation of Elizabeth II when she was 15.

© Christoph Schnitzer

Some people were particularly moved by the news of the British Queen's death.

Four very personal stories from Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – With the death of Elizabeth II, an epoch in European history came to an end on Thursday.

Some people in the district were particularly moved by the news - as Brits or because, like Tölzerin Elisabeth Fritz, they have very personal memories of the Queen.

Tölzerin witnessed the Queen's coronation "from the front row"

Elizabeth Fritz said she was “very, very touched” by the death of Elizabeth II.

"I was constantly sitting in front of the television." The Tölzerin, who will be 85 this month, has a very special childhood memory with the English Queen: as a 15-year-old commercial trainee at the time, she attended the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.

At the time, she had applied – incidentally without her mother's knowledge – via the Bavarian Youth Council for one of two places that were offered to working German young people between the ages of 14 and 17 for this event.

To her surprise, the young woman from Tölzer was awarded the contract.

In London she experienced the historic event "imagine, from the front row", as she wrote home at the time.

Although she did not attend the coronation directly in Westminster Abbey,

A few days later, the selected young people from different countries were even introduced personally to the young Queen.

"We had trained the Hofknicks beforehand," says Elisabeth Fritz.

The Queen also shook her hand on the occasion.

Queen Elizabeth II died: "I don't give her peace"

The memory of this "great experience" accompanies us to this day.

"From then on, the Queen grew on me," explains the Tölzerin.

With some other young women, who were also allowed to take part in the coronation and denied the four-week stay in England with her, the Tölzerin kept in touch for a long time, traveling to France and Spain to see them.

Later there was an additional connection with the United Kingdom because her sister married an Englishman.

Another coincidence: Elisabeth Fritz's son Johannes has the same birthday as the Queen.

With the death of Elizabeth II, "an epoch comes to an end," says Elisabeth Fritz.

"I grant her peace." King Charles III.

will probably find it difficult to fill the position with the same quality as his mother.

Coronation of Elizabeth II was first television experience

For other reasons, the Scot David Warham, who lives in Jachenau, vividly remembers the coronation of Elizabeth.

"I was eight years old and that was the first time I saw pictures on TV," he says.

“A neighbor had a TV and invited everyone to watch the coronation at his place.

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David Warham, Jachenau.

© Archive

Elizabeth II "gave her whole life for Great Britain", but was also "an important person for the whole world", says the Jachenauer.

Her death does not make him sad.

"She deserves to die in peace and quickly." Her death will not change anything about the monarchy, Warham sees Charles III.

continuity guaranteed.

And that's a good thing from Warham's point of view, who describes himself as a supporter of the monarchy.

He believes that even Liz Truss, who used to call for the abolition of the monarchy as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, would now have been prime minister "and would have been happy to be able to speak to the Queen on a weekly basis.

She'll have to get along with Charles from now on." Only instead of the current "Queen Consort", Camilla would have preferred to see Diana,

Drummer Pete York saw the Queen in Nottingham

The British drummer Pete York, who lives in Bad Tölz with his wife Mecky, also remembers a special moment: "When I was about 13 years old, the Queen came to Nottingham.

She was still quite fresh to the throne at the time," York said.

"We're all in town and everyone was hoping they had a good position for her to pass." Young Pete York was lucky: "I was standing on the side of the road and she drove by in a car and waved out.

I was blown away."

The drummer Pete York lives in Bad Tölz.

© Arndt Pröhl

The news of his death hit him "right in the heart," he says.

For him, the Queen was a "special personality".

"Especially because she has shown an excellent sense of humor in so many situations, that's important to us Brits."

Queen Elizabeth II "better than all politicians"

York's wish to meet the Queen in person has not been fulfilled.

"When I was still actively touring with the Spencer Davis Group, I met Princess Anne once and Princess Margaret once," he recalls.

"It was a great honor."

In York's eyes, the Queen was "the one you would have liked to have had as a leader.

She was better than all politicians,” he says.

Moreover, she was a "firm constant for the United Kingdom".

"It will not be easy to take on her legacy, as the Queen was also popular with people who are not so familiar with the royals." In addition, her son's popularity ratings plummeted when his ex-wife Diana died in an accident .

"But he's also great and has wit and charm.

I think he'll do a good job.” What he particularly appreciates about King Charles III.

his many years of commitment to nature conservation.

A drawing box as a memento of the Queen

"Bold, hearty and courageous, whether on horseback or with a scepter," that's what Elizabeth II was like, says Brit Susanne Williams, who lives in Jachenau.

The Queen's death caused an "earthquake" in the English people, a people whom the Queen served throughout her life.

She really was "the mother of the nation," says Williams, who actually grew up in the United States.

She has shown many admirable talents - whether in the war as a mechanic or as an excellent horsewoman.

She was just "one hell of a girl," says Williams, which translates somewhat inadequately to "a damn good woman."

Susanne Williams, Jachenau.

© Archive

Williams remembers that her grandparents brought a drawing box from England in 1977.

Printed on it is a photo of the Queen on her 25th jubilee.

"To me she was a wonderful fairy with a scepter and a crown and those incredible eyes that calm and encourage without saying a word.

That's how I remember our Queen.” Of course, she kept the original set and later bought a second copy on Ebay.

The woman from Jachenau also always followed the Queen's Christmas speeches.

"Hope, cohesion and confidence" came from their speeches.

"We will miss your words this Christmas, Your Majesty.

Long live King Charles.”

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By Veronika Ahn-Tauchnitz, Felicitas Bogner and Andreas Steppan