Reactions to the death of Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, died on 8 September 2022, at the age of 96, leading to reactions from around the world. The new king, Charles III, paid tribute to his "darling Mama" in an address to the nation and Commonwealth the next day. Politicians throughout the Commonwealth paid tribute to the Queen, praising her long public service. Political figures of the rest of the world also offered their condolences and tributes, as did members of royal families, religious leaders and other public figures.
Commemorations were observed at many global landmarks, with some lit up in the colours of the Union Jack or illuminating an image of Elizabeth. Many organisations paid their respects, and some suspended operations or cancelled events. BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 all interrupted television programming to cover the news, while print media dedicated entire front covers in tribute.
The wider public also reacted on social media, many sending condolences to the royal family or thanking the Queen for her work. Others debated the legacy of the British Empire and the abolition of the monarchy.
King Charles III, successor to Elizabeth II, released a statement immediately following his mother's death.
Charles gave his first address to the nation and Commonwealth on 9 September at 6 p.m. BST, in which he mourned, paid tribute, and proclaimed his son William the Prince of Wales. The Queen's three younger children, Anne, Andrew, and Edward, published statements of their own. Charles, along with Anne and Edward, paid tribute to their mother in the BBC One special programme A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.
Four of the Queen's grandchildren, William, Harry, Beatrice, and Eugenie, paid tribute to their grandmother via their own statements.
The Cook Islands and Niue are de facto independent countries but de jure part of the Realm of New Zealand, and the monarch of New Zealand is also the head of state of both nations.
The ceremony that was due to be held to mark the transitioning of Colchester from town to city status was cancelled.
The last two concerts of the BBC Proms, including the "Last Night", were cancelled as a mark of respect. The National Television Awards were postponed and rescheduled to 13 October as the original date of the ceremony, 15 September, fell during the period of national mourning. The Mercury Prize was among the events that were called off, while the Royal Opera House announced that they would not go on with the opening night of one of their new productions and would not be operating on the day of the state funeral. The Liberal Democrat Autumn conference was scrapped. Tynwald postponed its meeting on cost of living crisis until 22 September. The Trades Union Congress also cancelled their annual conference as a sign of respect.
Following the announcement of the Queen's death, the RMT and Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen unions suspended planned train strikes scheduled for 15 and 17 September. A Royal Mail strike by the CWU planned for the following day was also suspended. The Royal College of Nursing delayed their strike ballot.
The Bank of England postponed their interest rate decision by one week.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) first issued guidance to sporting bodies after the death was announced. Most sporting bodies cancelled events until at least 11 September, but some events between 8 and 11 September went ahead as scheduled with mourning protocol, such as pregame observation of a moment of silence, playing of "God Save the King", and all players wearing black armbands.
All matches sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control were ordered postponed until 11 September. The England and Wales Cricket Board suspended all fixtures scheduled for 9 September, including the second day of the third test between England and South Africa (the first day had already been called off due to weather) and 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (the matches were later declared "no result"). The Third Test resumed on 10 September with day three, as the match cannot be extended due to South Africa needing travel and rest time before their tour of India. The remainder of the 2022 Tour of Britain was cancelled, and the event was declared complete after its fifth of eight stages. The Premier League, English Football League, NIFL Premiership, and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) postponed matches scheduled for 9 September. On 9 September, all English, Northern Irish, Welsh, and professional Scottish football was suspended until 11 September. This decision was heavily criticised by supporters' groups, journalists and former players.
The British Horseracing Authority ordered the suspension of all racing until 10 September. The St Leger Stakes, the Champagne Stakes and the Park Stakes, the Doncaster Cup and the Flying Childers Stakes were all postponed. The St Leger Stakes started with a two-minute silence. Horse racing events on the day of the funeral were also cancelled. Play in the 2022 BMW PGA Championship was suspended until 10 September. No play took place on 9 September, and all facilities were closed. Premiership Rugby postponed all matches until 9 September. Individual teams may request the postponement of fixtures if the team has "connections" to the royal family, or the availability of players is impacted by their commitments to serve official public safety duties tied to the mourning period. The Scottish Rugby Union postponed all matches until the weekend of 11 September. The Great North Run half-marathon cancelled its Great North 5k sister event, its Junior and Mini Great North Run events, but went on with the remainder of its programme. Organisers stated that the event would provide "an opportunity for people to come together and express condolences", and that the event's charitable contributions would be "a fitting tribute to the Queen who lived her life in service to the country and its people."
Organisations including Kew Gardens, the National Gallery, Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London and Legoland Windsor Resort closed on Friday 9 September to show respect. Department store Selfridges also closed.
Many businesses decided to close on Monday 19 September, the day of the funeral.
Retailers including John Lewis, Harrods, Primark, B&Q, Homebase, Poundland, Screwfix, Wickes and Toolstation announced that they would not open as a mark of respect and to allow employees to watch the funeral.
Supermarket chains Aldi, Morrisons and Lidl also announced their intention to close, while Waitrose announced the majority of stores would close except those on the funeral route which are scheduled to close for the duration of the funeral. Larger Tesco and Sainsbury's stores were to be closed for the duration of the day with smaller stores open after 5 p.m. Many supermarkets also stated that their forecourts would be closed until 5 p.m. on the day of the funeral.
Costa and Greggs announced full day closures for their stores, while McDonald's said they planned to be closed until 5 p.m.
Odeon, Picturehouse and Cineworld, announced the closures of all their cinemas. Vue announced the closure of most of its cinemas, with those remaining open instead showing the funeral free of charge.
Museums, including the Science Museum and Natural History Museum, and zoos including Chester Zoo, Colchester Zoo and Banham Zoo also announced that they were to close.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency suspended theory and practical examinations on 19 September. Many councils across the UK postponed bin collections while others closed recycling centres and libraries.
Heathrow Airport announced that no landings and takeoffs would take place for a thirty-minute period starting at 11:40 a.m. on the day of the funeral, to avoid disturbances for aircraft during the planned two-minute silence for the Queen, with the rest of the day having numerous arrival and departure changes.
Center Parcs announced that it was planning to close its sites and remove visitors residing there for the day of the funeral, but subsequent backlash led to its changing its position to allowing guests already there to stay but closing all facilities and delaying new arrivals.
Transport for London announced a ban on buskers during the national period of mourning after initially announcing a three-day ban.
Apple and Microsoft paid tribute on their homepage updated with a black-and-white image of Queen Elizabeth II. In addition, Google changed the logo on its website to a grey version.
The University of Derby's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, described the Queen's 70-year reign as "a remarkable achievement", and added that "her commitment and leadership are an inspiration to us all."
Vice-Chancellors and spokespeople from Staffordshire University, Keele University, the University of Essex, and Lancaster University paid their tributes by reflecting on the past visits by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Queen Elizabeth II was the patron of 27 organisations in Australia. Some of these organisations have released statements to pay tribute to her service to their organisation:
The Anglican Mothers Union Australia said that "we will always remember her intelligence and humility in making wise decisions, her charm and sense of humour, and her sincere caring and gentleness. Hers was a life born to serve God and all humanity and her legacy will live on in so many ways." The Australian Medical Association said that "the AMA pays tribute to the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledges the many intersections that the medical profession in Australia has with organisations enjoying royal patronage. The AMA acknowledges the Queen's selfless service and expresses our condolences to her family." The Australian Physiotherapy Association said "we pay our respects to the decades of service she gave to the Commonwealth. We admire the grace and dignity with which she led her life of duty."
The Australian Red Cross said that the "Australian Red Cross pays tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of her death. Her Majesty was a supporter of the work of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement across the world, including in Australia." Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital said "we will always be proud of our long association with the Queen and send our sympathies to HRH King Charles and the Royal Family, and thank them for the special relationship the RCH was privileged to enjoy during Her Majesty's reign." Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital said "the Women's is a strong supporter of gender equity, so we are grateful for the Queen's example of female leadership which was admired by many people." The Royal Melbourne Hospital said that "the Royal Melbourne Hospital extends our deepest condolences to The Royal Family on the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was a much-loved patron of the RMH since taking her reign in 1952."
Racing Victoria said "Racing Victoria extends its heartfelt condolences following the sad news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. An avid racegoer, breeder and owner, Queen Elizabeth's love of the horse and thoroughbred racing was an unmistakable characteristic of her reign." RSL Australia said "she dedicated her life to the service of her nation and the peoples of the Commonwealth and never shirked this great responsibility. The RSL will be forever grateful for her commitment, encouragement and support for our veterans and service personnel." Scouts Australia said "her outstanding example of service, encouragement and kindness was an inspiration to us all."
The Australian War Memorial paid tribute with her name being projected onto the Hall of Memory. Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson says the Australian War Memorial is all about those who "put service before self".
BBC Radio 4 broadcast a rolling news programme throughout the afternoon when news of the Queen's health was announced, presented by Mishal Husain and Evan Davis. Programmes on other BBC Radio networks continued as normal up until the announcement of the death. Stations were cut-off at 6:36 pm (except on Radio 5 Live, which handed over from its own special coverage), and Radio 4 newsreader Chris Aldridge read the official statement twice, with the national anthem played in-between, before all stations then took the Radio 4 coverage for the remainder of the evening.
Global-owned network LBC dedicated its output to the developing news story upon the initial announcement of the Queen being put under medical observation. Presenter Andrew Marr broke down upon announcing the news of the Queen's death. A newsflash was then broadcast shortly afterwards on other Global stations (Capital, Classic FM, Heart, Radio X and Smooth). This was then followed by the playing of sombre music on all stations – including Elgar's Nimrod – for a short period, after which all Global stations simulcasted LBC's coverage until 11 pm.
Bauer stations – Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Hits Radio and Magic – suspended programmes after the announcement of the Queen's death and broadcast a stripped back playlist of music, interspersed with presenters paying tribute to the Queen.
The BBC Radio 4 series The Archers included a conversation about the Queen's death, between Lynda Snell and Lilian Bellamy, as the first section of the episode broadcast on 11 September.
The first official public announcement of the Queen's death was made on the Royal Family's official Twitter account at 18:30, one minute before the announcement was carried on the PA Media newswire and two minutes before the death was announced on BBC News. Noting the shift in communications technologies since the death of George VI, media outlets pointed out that in the years leading up to the Queen's death, the Royal Family's use of social media had expanded dramatically.
Responses from social media users were mixed, with many sending their condolences to the royal family or thanking the Queen for her work. Others posted jokes, memes, videos, and statements that were celebrating or mocking the Queen's death. These responses attracted criticism, as many users considered them inappropriate and distasteful. Forbes wrote that while news of her death "ruled" Twitter, "so did the trolls", in reference to the "jokes, criticism or outright hostility toward the late monarch."
Less sympathetic reactions to the Queen's death were mainly tied to debates surrounding the legacy of the British Empire and came from many of those now questioning their country's relationship to the monarchy. Many citizens in Commonwealth countries were questioning their membership, as those who viewed the Queen favorably are said to be less inclined to look on a King favorably. In Kenya, the words "Mau Mau" and "Dedan Kimathi" trended online as many reflected on widespread atrocities committed by British soldiers during the first eight years of the Queen's reign, as well as the subsequent effort to conceal records of it. Criticism also persisted in non-Commonwealth nations with historical links to the British Empire. Notably, many Irish people resent the monarchy's treatment of Ireland including Northern Ireland's status as part of the UK. A video of a chant of "Lizzy's in a box" being sung by Irish football fans in Dublin went viral.
Some parts of Black Twitter celebrated her death due to Britain's history of colonialism in Africa such as their involvement in the Atlantic slave trade and the Scramble for Africa. Although these events took place long before Elizabeth II took the throne, some social media comments described her as a symbol of the British empire.
Carnegie Mellon University linguistics professor Uju Anya tweeted, "I heard the chief monarch of a thieving and raping genocidal empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating." Anya further stated that her family was persecuted during the Nigerian Civil War, which she described as a "genocide ... directly supported and facilitated by the British government then headed by the monarch Queen Elizabeth II." The Tweet provoked significant controversy, with the university disavowing her statement and other prominent people, including Amazon founder and major CMU donor Jeff Bezos, sharply criticising Anya. Within hours, the post was deleted by Twitter, which stated that it had violated the company's rules.
Kenyan-American poet and academic Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ, who also cited persecution of his family in the Mau Mau rebellion, wrote on Twitter, "If the queen had apologized for slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism and urged the crown to offer reparations for the millions of lives taken in her/their names, then perhaps I would do the human thing and feel bad. As a Kenyan, I feel nothing. This theater is absurd." Mũkoma later said that with her death, there needs to be a "dismantling" of the Commonwealth and a "real reckoning with colonial abuses".
Numerous corporate brands were mocked for social media tributes to the Queen that were seen by users as strange or unnecessary. The Twitter accounts for the West End musicals Hamilton and Les Misérables—both of which depict republican revolutions—posted statements of condolence, with the latter account later deleting its post following negative feedback.
All BBC Television channels (barring BBC Three and Four, which were not broadcasting at the time, and subsequently had programmes suspended; and children's channels CBBC, which announced the news through their programme CBBC Newsround, and CBeebies, which saw no interruptions to its regular schedule) and radio stations suspended their schedules following the announcement of her death. On BBC Television, rolling news coverage had begun just after 12:30 pm on the BBC News Channel following the initial announcement that the Queen had been put on medical observation, with BBC One clearing its schedules shortly afterwards to simulcast the news coverage. The BBC's lead news anchor Huw Edwards began presenting from 2 pm onwards, accompanied by royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell. Edwards then made the official announcement of the Queen's death at 6:31 pm; shortly afterwards the screen faded to black to allow for BBC Two to join the BBC News feed. Extensive schedule changes took place across BBC Television, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky to show news coverage and obituary documentaries. Commercial television channels including UKTV and BT Sport suspended advertising breaks for a number of hours following the announcement and many commercial radio music stations switched to a sombre playlist in the days following the Queen's death. Advertisements were suspended on both ITV and Sky until at least Saturday.
Channel 4 cut short an episode of Hollyoaks to announce the death of the Queen, airing news coverage until 10 pm and then documentaries on the Queen thereafter, before airing an amended schedule of programmes the following day. The comedy programme The Last Leg was cancelled that evening out of respect while Gogglebox aired as normal. The release of the comedy-horror series Don't Hug Me I'm Scared on Channel 4 was delayed from 12 to 30 September. Advertising was suspended out of respect, a move Channel 5 also repeated.
Sky was criticised after an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver was edited to remove jokes related to the Queen's death.
The Netflix series The Crown, which covers Elizabeth's reign, suspended filming of its sixth season for a period of time "out of respect".
The BBC postponed the broadcast of the launch episode of the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing out of respect. The programme—which was recorded on the evening before the Queen's death—had been originally scheduled to air on 17 September, which was two days before the funeral. It was subsequently rescheduled to air the following Friday (23 September). The BBC soap opera EastEnders paid tribute to the Queen with a special scene that aired at the start of the episode broadcast on 12 September. The BBC aired Paddington films in honour of the Queen.
In Australia, the ABC News Channel suspended all regular programming and news bulletins for continuous coverage of the Queen's death, while Seven Network also switched to delivering 24-hour coverage, delaying regular television programmes that were scheduled to air.
In Canada and New Zealand, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and TVNZ also broadcast special tribute programmes.
In the United States, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, NBC and CBS all broke the news of her death, with the three main television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) breaking into normal programming to announce it.
Performances on the West End of London went on as scheduled during the mourning period with dimmed lights, as per guidance from the UK government. Several shows contained a moment of silence in the Queen's memory, and the musical Wicked aired a disclaimer before the performance the evening of the Queen's death, stating it was being performed as written. This was likely due to the potential for the opening number "No One Mourns the Wicked" and in particular its initial lyric "Good news, she's dead!" to be seen as in poor taste in light of the circumstances.
All major out-of-home advertising companies, including Clear Channel UK and JCDecaux, agreed to suspend commercial advertising on digital out-of-home billboards and poster signs in favour of memorial displays. Media outlets and major social networks such as Twitter similarly suspended all display advertising. This also occurred on the day of the funeral.
On 12 September 2022, the UK division of Nintendo announced that it would not be airing the Nintendo Direct scheduled for the following day "as a mark of respect during this period of national mourning"; instead, it was made available for audiences in the region as a YouTube upload. Following the Direct, audiences on social media speculated that the decision was made due to the perceived inappropriateness of the title for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which was revealed at the end of the presentation.
All football fixtures across the Home Nations were postponed or suspended from 8 September until at least 11 September.
In England, tributes were issued by current men's and women's national team players and staff. Included was England women's team manager Sarina Wiegman, who issued a statement reading how "This summer she took the time to write to me and my players congratulating us for our success," referring to Elizabeth II's message of congratulations after England won UEFA Women's Euro 2022 as hosts at the end of July – ultimately the final senior UEFA or FIFA tournament of Elizabeth II's reign, the Lionesses' first major trophy and England's first major senior trophy, men's or women's, since the men's team won the 1966 FIFA World Cup as hosts and the Queen had presented the Jules Rimet Trophy to Bobby Moore. Wiegman continued, "In that letter she called us an 'inspiration for girls and women'. It is you, your Majesty, who was the inspiration with your unrelenting work ethic, leadership, dignity and kindness."
When the English Premier League resumed the following week after the weekend's fixtures were called off following Elizabeth II's death, each fixture included all teams and match officials wearing black armbands. During the weekend games, bouquets were laid in the centre circle by representatives of each team and a minute's silence followed by "God Save the King" preceded kickoff. Specifically:
The English Women's Super League incorporated tributes ahead of their matches the same weekend, which was the opening weekend of their season. Three Premier League fixtures from the weekend – Crystal Palace-Brighton, Leeds United-Manchester United and Chelsea-Liverpool – were postponed due to policing issues as resources were allocated to the Queen's state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September. At all Premier League and Women's Super League matches, video screens and perimeter boards displayed tribute images to Elizabeth II and flags were flown at half-mast.
In Scotland, the football governing body issued guidance on 12 September stating that clubs may wish to hold a period of silence as a mark of respect. In one match on 17 September a minute silence was booed and disrupted by "Lizzie's in a box" chants by a section of Dundee United F.C. fans to the tune of the KC and the Sunshine Band song 'Give It Up'. St Mirren then announced prior to their game against Celtic that a minute's applause would be observed instead. Earlier that week, UEFA opened disciplinary procedures against Celtic for the display of a banner reading "Fuck the Crown" and some believe St Mirren opted against a minute's silence in the hope that clapping would drown out anticipated boos. In response, Celtic fans chanted "If you hate the Royal Family clap your hands" throughout the minute of applause and unfurled a banner with the same message. The incident was televised live on Sky Sports and commentator Ian Crocker immediately apologised to viewers for any offence caused. Although footage avoided the Celtic away end where the banner could be seen, the message was audibly received above any applause as the cameras simultaneously cut to players and fans clapping. The Daily Mail had alleged Sky Sports production staff were instructed to turn down sound volume if Celtic fans began to sing about the Queen.
In continental football several minute's of silence were interrupted, such as a UEFA Europa League group stage match in St. Gallen, Switzerland between Arsenal and FC Zürich, as well as a UEFA Conference League group stage match in Edinburgh between Hearts and İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.. During a UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match in Dublin between Shamrock Rovers F.C. and Djurgårdens IF Fotboll, several Shamrocks fans were heard chanting "Lizzy's in a box" to the tune of the KC and the Sunshine Band song 'Give It Up'. A history of anti-British sentiment exists in Ireland due to events such as the plantations of Ireland, the Great Famine and The Troubles. Some sporting events were able to hold tributes without interruption, such as a UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United F.C. and Real Sociedad at Old Trafford in Manchester, and a UEFA Europa Conference League match between West Ham United F.C. and FCSB at the London Stadium.
Rangers defied UEFA's ban on playing national anthems to pay their respects before a Champions League match on 14 September. The club, alongside Manchester City F.C. and Chelsea, had previously asked UEFA to do so but ultimately were refused. Despite ignoring UEFA's decision, Rangers did not face any disciplinary proceedings.
The Scottish national team were granted special permission by UEFA to hold a minute's applause before their Nations League match against Ukraine—although a minority of boos were heard around the stadium.
The first day of the final Test between England and South Africa at The Oval had been scheduled for 8 September 2022, but was rained off after England won the toss, and the second day of play was cancelled as a mark of respect to the Queen. Play began on the third day with tributes paid to the Queen, including a minute's silence followed by the playings of "God Save the King" and "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika". Both the teams and match officials were wearing black armbands.
Prior to the second Australian Football League semi-final between Melbourne and Brisbane at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, between an Australian Indigenous Welcome to Country and the performing of "Advance Australia Fair", a minute of silence was observed followed by "God Save the King" to pay respects, remember and reflect on "her grit, humility and devotion to the Commonwealth." The first semi-final between Collingwood and Fremantle at the same venue the next night was also preceded by a minute of silence.
The National Football League held a moment of silence for the Queen prior to the NFL Kickoff Game on the day of Elizabeth II's death between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Formula One held a minute of silence in the paddock for the Queen prior to first free practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza Circuit. Another minute of silence is also scheduled for the Sunday race itself. Formula One broadcasters Channel 4 and Sky Sports have planned to scale back the broadcast of the Italian Grand Prix by shortening or scrapping parts of the pre-race broadcast. The world feed provided to all broadcasters has also taken a more sombre tone, excluding the theme song and introduction from the beginning of the broadcast. Several team liveries are featuring special decals as a tribute to the Queen. The Supercars Championship also observed a minute of silence at Pukekohe in tribute to Queen. Both Williams drivers Nicholas Latifi and Nyck de Vries had a livery in the halo, resembling the birth and death dates of Elizabeth II.
Super League games did go ahead, with a scheduled playoff match on 9 September, but a moment of silence was observed and all players wore black armbands.
Hundreds of people had gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London at the time of the announcement. Many others used social media to post condolences and tributes both to the Queen and to the British royal family.
Floral tributes were later left outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Hillsborough Castle and Highgrove House. Several black cab drivers lined The Mall with their lights on to pay tribute to the Queen. Numerous books of condolences were set up at libraries and council offices across the UK. In addition to flowers, mourners left Paddington Bear replicas, Corgi soft toys, balloons and marmalade sandwiches at various sites, prompting the Royal Parks to issue a statement, asking mourners to leave only unwrapped flowers, "organic or compostable material", in the interests of sustainability and pest control. It was later announced that the flowers would be gradually picked up and composted for landscaping projects and shrubberies, while around 1,000 Paddington bears and other teddies left by the public at royal residences were cleaned and delivered to the British charity Barnardo's.
It was estimated that more than 700,000 members of the public lined up to see the Queen lying in state and pay their respects. The Palace received over 50,000 letters of condolence from members of the public in the aftermath of her death. Balmoral Castle's grounds remained open until the end of 2022 to allow members of the public to visit and pay their respects.
Republicans believe support for republicanism is likely to grow in the Commonwealth after Queen Elizabeth's death, particularly in Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean, where anti-royal sentiment is strongest in the Commonwealth. Former director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and academic Philip Murphy has suggested that the coronation of Charles may lead to a "rush to the door" for Commonwealth realms to move to republican government. And academics from Australia and New Zealand, such as lecturer on royalty Cindy McCreery and historian Katie Pickles, have explicitly tied public support for the monarchy to Elizabeth's popularity and a personal affection for her.
Gaston Browne said that he aspires for Antigua and Barbuda to become a republic "at some point", and acknowledged that such a move is "not on the cards" for "some time to follow". On 10 September 2022, following the proclamation of Charles III as king, Browne stated that he plans to hold a referendum within three years on becoming a republic.
In Australia, Labor's victory in the 2022 federal election led to new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, appointing Matt Thistlethwaite to the newly created office of Assistant Minister for the Republic, signalling a commitment to prepare Australia for a transition to republic during a second term of Labor government. After the death of Elizabeth II, former prime minister Julia Gillard opined that Australia would inevitably choose to be a republic, but agreed with Albanese's timing on debate about the matter. When asked if he supported another referendum following the Queen's death, Albanese stated it was "not the time" to discuss a republic. Polling conducted after the Queen's death for The Sydney Morning Herald showed an uptick in support for the monarchy. Adam Bandt, leader of the Green Party also expressed his desire for an Australian republic while expressing condolences to the British royal family. In October, Paul Keating claimed that he had discussions with the royal family in the 1990s about stepping down from the Australian crown, but these plans were halted by losing the 1999 Australian republic referendum; he has speculated that Charles may choose to abdicate.
The day after Elizabeth's death, Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, publicly said that a referendum on a Bahamian republic was "always on the table" for his administration. Among popular calls for the poll, he reiterated that willingness days later and Minister of Social Services Obie Wilchcombe expressed his desire for the nation to reject the monarchy.
Elizabeth's death sparked some national debate in Canada around ending the monarchy, which was increasingly unpopular at the end of her reign. In October 2022, Quebec politicians refused to swear an oath of fealty to Charles III, and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called for severing ties with the monarchy entirely, casting it as "incredibly racist" and the relationship with Canada as "archaic" and "humiliating". In December, Quebec premier François Legault announced legislation to end the oath.
A YouGov poll held on 11 September found that while a majority of Britons support the monarchy's continued existence, only 53% of 25–49-year-olds were in favour and that number dropped to 40% among 18–24-year-olds.
Two people were arrested in Scotland for public order offences after protesting against the monarchy and repeated instances of heckling against Prince Andrew, Duke of York during events related to the Queen's death. A Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner said that "the public absolutely have a right of protest and we have been making this clear to all officers involved in the extraordinary policing operation currently in place and we will continue [to] do so".
The Index on Censorship and advocacy group Liberty were both critical of the arrests made in Scotland and England (which was later reversed).
A silent protest took place outside Cardiff Castle during the King's visit on 16 September. As well as placards calling for abolition of the monarchy, the protestors held flags with the emblem of Owain Glyndŵr. The protest was partly against the new King's immediate announcement that his eldest son would take the Prince of Wales title. It was led by various groups of trade unionists, republicans and Welsh nationalist groups, under the banner "Real Democracy Now". Former Senedd member Bethan Sayed (Plaid Cymru) was also to take part.
After certain events and services, such as sports games, medical appointments, and food banks, were cancelled or postponed after the Queen's death, some people in the United Kingdom took to social media to protest against the cancellations and disruption of essential services during the official ten-day mourning period.
Human rights campaigners protested against Britain's inviting Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman to Elizabeth II's funeral.