By now, youB次元官网网址檝e heard the news. Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died on Thursday at the age of 96.

Her reign lasted more than 70 years, beginning in February of 1952, meaning she was the only monarch most Britons (and Canadians) had ever known.

Her loss is felt by many, and in many different ways.

CP called her a B次元官网网址渟ymbol of stability in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and embarrassing dysfunction in her own family.B次元官网网址�

British Prime Minister Liz Truss, appointed by the queen just 48 hours earlier, pronounced the country B次元官网网址渄evastatedB次元官网网址� and called Elizabeth B次元官网网址渢he rock on which modern Britain was built.B次元官网网址�

The tributes rolled in, with the prevailing sentiment being, regardless of how folks felt about the monarchy, the queen did indeed personify dignity and grace.

For me, without the queen, the institution itself doesnB次元官网网址檛 hold much value anymore, for a variety of reasons.

But IB次元官网网址檒l miss the phone calls.

My family on my mumB次元官网网址檚 side is rather British.

I grew up on B次元官网网址楢ll in the BusesB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楤enny HillB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楳onty PythonB次元官网网址�.

My Nana always had an endless supply of licorice allsorts, LyleB次元官网网址檚 Golden Syrup and made the best Yorkshire pudding.

When I phoned her, I didnB次元官网网址檛 say B次元官网网址渉elloB次元官网网址漮r B次元官网网址渉iB次元官网网址� like a normal human, I often said B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址檃llo, B次元官网网址檕wB次元官网网址檚 your budgie?B次元官网网址� (long story).

Nana is the source of two of my three Queen Elizabeth stories.

The queen and I share a birthday, so every year on our special day, she used to call me and offer her best wishes.

As a very young man, this delighted me to no end.

B次元官网网址淭he queen is calling me!B次元官网网址�

The calls delighted me more even after I figured out it was my cheeky Nana on the other end of the call, using her fine impersonation skills to convince me I was sharing a moment with a monarch.

Those calls continued well into my adulthood, until my NanaB次元官网网址檚 passing. But I nonethless perpetuated the tradition after becoming a dad, reminding everyone in earshot that the queen now had my cellphone number and never forgot to call.

The calls may now be no more, but the joy will remain.

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Story No. 2 involving Nana and the queen (I always imagined her being a sweet grandmother like my own) I donB次元官网网址檛 remember myself, but it took on a life of its own over the years.

When I was a toddler, Queen Elizabeth visited Victoria. Of course, my Mum and Nana had to go see her in public, with tiny me in tow. There was some sort of cannons firing or a 21-gun salute for the queen, but this made wee me cry. Nana, not missing a beat, pretended to be shot, made some funny faces and noises and, in front of hundreds of folks and visiting royalty, rolled down the hill to make me laugh. I did. Fortunately, she didnB次元官网网址檛 get carted away.

Story No. 3: I was taking photos at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. I was near the entrance to the stadium track when a security fellow told me to stop and remain where I was. The queen, in the back of a convertible, was on her way in. The procession stopped directly in front of me. The queen (the queen!) was basically an armB次元官网网址檚 length away. I froze. She said B次元官网网址渉elloB次元官网网址�. I bowed my head and said B次元官网网址渉ello, Your Majesty.B次元官网网址�

Nana listened proudly as I recounted the tale, though she didnB次元官网网址檛 buy my assertation that I was invited for high tea with my new best friend after the ceremony.

RIP to the queen. I cherish the stories.

PQB B次元官网网址/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf welcomes your questions, comments and story ideas. He can be reached at 250-905-0029, via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or on Twitter .

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