San Francisco Anglophiles mourn death of Queen Elizabeth, celebrate her memory

SAN FRANCISCO — Bay Space residents reacted in disbelief to the information Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II had died on the age of 96, and in San Francisco – from excessive tea on Nob Hill to a British items store within the Inside Sundown – the town was an oasis of Anglophilia.

Shortly after information of her passing reached our shores, the bells at Grace Cathedral rang 96 instances – as soon as for yearly of her life.

The InterContinental Mark Hopkins Resort lowered the UK flag to half-staff in honor of the queen Thursday. The newly-renovated Peacock Court docket Ballroom was unveiled with afternoon excessive tea, which was a deliberate occasion.

To mark the event, folks got here of their greatest tea get together apparel and loved scones, finger sandwiches and loads of sweets. The expertise was based mostly on the royal afternoon tea hosted by the InterContinental London Park Lane.

“Not many individuals know, however the location of that lodge is definitely on the location the place her Majesty Queen Elizabeth really grew up, her dwelling was there. Sadly, it was demolished throughout World Conflict II,” mentioned Basic Supervisor Michael Tempo. “It is attention-grabbing sadly together with her passing, we’re wanting on the theme of this afternoon tea being a nod to the queen and our royal connections.”

Tempo led a toast with the best respect to the queen. He’s Maltese and grew up as a British citizen.

“I’ve all the time had an incredible sense of pleasure in being a part of the tradition and the folklore of the royal household,” he mentioned. “So I used to be clearly like everyone else very saddened.”

On the British Consulate on Sansome Road in San Francisco, folks introduced flowers to pay their respects throughout the day.

Willow on the Inexperienced within the Inside Sundown, a store that sells specialty British items, put up a photograph of the queen and King Charles. Founder and CEO Alex Sinclair mentioned he is seen extra clients than normal within the hours following her demise.

He opened the comparatively new store to assist showcase a style of Britain, together with hard-to-find objects like British cheeses.

“It is bittersweet you understand the queen has had an extended and really stunning life. She’s a part of our nation and he or she’s been the spine of our tradition,” mentioned Sinclair. “On the one hand, it is unhappy that she’s handed however i feel the way in which that she has left our nation is for the higher.”

“Similar to shock that it occurred and it occurred so fast,” mentioned Donita Murphy, the longtime proprietor of Lovejoy’s Tea Room in San Francisco’s Noe Valley.

She heard the information over the cellphone Thursday morning. Murphy, who’s from Nottingham, has admired Queen Elizabeth for many years. The queen is a centerpiece of one in every of Lovejoy’s largest occasions of the yr.

“On Mom’s Day, we even have a reduce out of the queen and everyone takes their image together with her,” Murphy defined.

Jodi Hayes and buddy Debra Mulledy Greenberg stopped into Lovejoy’s by probability, a number of hours after the information broke.

“I’ve adopted the queen my entire whole life, you understand?” Hayes mentioned. ” As a child. I’ve all the time thought she was spectacular. And I have been to England a number of instances.”

Greenberg mentioned she too was shocked to listen to information of Elizabeth’s passing.

“I really began crying, imagine it or not. It is simply so unhappy,” she mentioned. “I am leaving for England on Friday, so it is sort of like, what sort of timing is that?”