Local British expats gather to remember Queen Elizabeth II
Sep 8, 2022, 6:26 PM
A lot of people here are buying British foods today for comfort. One American woman bought pies for her British husband because she knew it would be a hard day for him. Others are buying Cornish pasties and clotted cream and scones in a kind of tribute to Britain.
Within minutes of hearing that Queen Elizabeth II had died at age 96, locals with a connection to the U.K. came together at the British Pantry, Three Lions Pub, and Neville’s tearoom in Redmond to share their shock, grief, and memories of watching the Queen over her seven-decade rule.
The three conjoined businesses are a hub for British expats and Anglophiles alike, offering British groceries, afternoon tea, and a pint in a one-stop shop.
Employees who immigrated to the U.S. from Great Britain said they had been on the phone with their loved ones that morning before the news broke, as everyone waited for updates on the Queen’s condition.
“It just feels strange to be away, I’m seeing lots of messages online of everyone feeling very sad and emotional,” said Michelle Garside, who moved here from Dorset, in South England, a year ago. “She’s a lovely lady, so it’s a sad day.”
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The store experienced one of its busiest days outside of the Christmas shopping season, with people filling the space from wall to wall and strangers bonding with one another as they mourned.
“It’s very busy, lots of people are coming in today, buying their goods and talking to each other,” Garside said.
But it was not solely a sad atmosphere in the room. As customers bought British pies and scones — whether for comfort or in tribute to their home country — they also shared their joy for the Queen’s 70-year reign, the longest in British history.
“It’s a very sad day, but at the same time, we have to celebrate what an incredible Queen and person that she was,” said Mavis Redman, who founded the British Pantry 45 years ago and runs it alongside the pub and the tearoom with her family.
They celebrated her life of service to her country, which included serving in World War II in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
For most people, Queen Elizabeth is the only British monarch they have ever known; her death marks the end of an era.
“I was 7 years old when she came to the throne, so I’ve never known anybody else on there, because I really don’t remember King George VI,” said one British expat, who came to the U.S. in 1975. She added that she was feeling quite sad because “it’s a part of my life that’s gone.”
People also shared their hopes for the new monarch, King Charles III.
“I think Charles — who is now King Charles — has big shoes to fill,” Redman said. “I’m hoping he does it well, I’m hoping he surprises everyone, because I know he was not always the favorite with some people.”
“I personally think despite the sort of controversy that surrounds him, I actually think he’s going to be a better King than people think he is,” added a British immigrant who hails from north of London. “He will still retain the sense of duty and tradition.”
