Perhaps the Sunshine Coast’s most well-known royal-watcher has admitted she’s hardly stopped crying since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Maroochydore’s June Upton, who for decades has been the go-to royalist for local media needing expert and heartfelt commentary about the royal household, said she learned of the harrowing news through a flurry of morning messages left on her phone by family and friends.
“Devastated. Absolutely devastated,” Mrs Upton said upon confirming the news from a friend.
“I asked, ‘Did she go peacefully?’ He replied, ‘Well, according to the news, she passed away peacefully.”
Since then, Mrs Upton has been glued to the media, absorbing all she can about the Queen, her life and her emotional farewell.
“I stayed up until about 3am. I think I’ve cried all night and all morning.”
She is among the countless Australians who joined mourners around the globe to pay their respects to the much-loved Queen, who was laid to rest on Monday night (AEST), either in person in London, via online condolence books, or in their own quiet personal ways.
Mrs Upton’s life-long and ongoing love for the Queen started as a child, perhaps five years old, when she heard the then Princess Elizabeth give what may have been her first radio interview.
“I was born in Nambour and my mother had a café,” Ms Upton explained.
“She had a tiny little radio, and when I was only very young – I think it was my first year at school – I remember when Princess Elizabeth was talking on the radio, and I turned around to my mother and I said, ‘Mum, have you heard this beautiful lady talking?’
“And I asked her, ‘Who is it and where is she?’ and my mother replied, ’It’s Princess Elizabeth’.
“I just loved listening to her, and ever since then I’ve been a follower of the Royal Family.”
Mrs Upton has been particularly enamoured by Elizabeth and her 70 years on the throne as the Queen.
“She has been an inspiration to everyone. I believe she’s almost perfect in every way. She never complained – and if she did, we didn’t hear about it,” she said.
“She’s just stopped the nation with so many billions of people watching.”
Mrs Upton does have a memorable keepsake that she will forever hold dear, to remind her of the Queen – a brooch that she bought at Buckingham Palace when she worked as a guide for Australian tourists to London.
“My first stop-over was Buckingham Palace and I bought a beautiful brooch over there – it’s a copy of the one the Queen wears a lot – her Jubilee brooch.
“I think I’ve loved her all my life.”
Mrs Upton believed the Royal Family was in good hands with the new monarch, King Charles III.
“I think that’s the very wise choice, a very good choice,” Mrs Upton said.
“He’s very much like his mother. He’s detailed. He’s just been perfect ever since he was born. As a child he never said anything wrong. As a young boy growing up, he was respectful to his mother.
“And of course, the public wasn’t happy with Camilla in the beginning, as you know, and the Queen said to him, ‘If this is the lady you choose and she makes you happy, you have my blessings’.
“No one could ever replace the Queen, but I think the monarchy will be in good hands with him.”
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