Analysis: Queen Mother, pillar of Britain

LONDON, March 30 (UPI) -- Britain lost its most valued natural treasure on Saturday, signaling the end of an era in British modern life.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, one the pillars of British royalty, a woman who had found a warm place in the hearts and minds of the British, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday at the age of 101 at her royal lodge in Windsor, Buckingham Palace reported.

As crowds started to gather outside Windsor Castle to pay their respect, flags around the country were lowered to half-mast and television stations played "God Save the Queen" as Briton's prepared to adapt to life without the Queen Mother.

The Queen 'Mum,' as she was affectionately called in the British Isles, was always here, always in the background of everyday British life, a life that Britain will have a hard to imagine henceforth without her warmth, her smile and her fancy colored hats.

She was an integral part of British life for more than 80 years, since her marriage to Prince Albert at age 23.

Albert went on to become King George VI, and she became Queen Elizabeth. Following the death of her husband the King, her eldest child, Elizabeth became Queen, but it was the Queen Mum that ruled Briton's souls.

There is hardly a person alive in the country today without memories of the Queen Mum. She was, with little doubt, Britain's favorite grandmother.

During the dark days of the Blitz, when Nazi Germany bombed London and other British cities with their V1 rockets, destroying entire city blocks and killing about 30,000 people, the Queen Mother was always there to cheer Britons on. She gave them courage and energy to carry on despite the daily hardships and shortages of goods and food. It was largely her persistence and iron-strong will that kept moral on the home front going through World War II.

When Buckingham Palace was bombed, she said it made it

her glad, because, she said, she felt she "could now look (London) East Enders in the face." She refused to leave Buckingham Palace and seek shelter in a safer place, much to the delight of Londoners, especially East Enders, with whom she developed great affinity.

The Queen mother always loved the public and was in return greatly loved by them. She invented the "Royal walkabout" -- getting out of protected vehicles to shake hands and mingle with crowds gathered by the road sides, or outside venues she would attend. She enjoyed meeting everyday people, and seemed genuinely concerned with their problems.

She remained active almost to the end, participating in royal events despite her age and a hip and collarbone operation she underwent at age 100. Her last public appearance was in November, when she gave a speech to the Royal Navy.

She always had a kind word for everyone she met and was particularly fond of WW II veterans. She delivered shamrock to the Irish Guard on St. Patrick's Day and braved inclement weather to attend World War II commemorations.

Of all the Royals, the Queen Mother was the one that young Princess Diana took to the most. Before marrying Price Charles, Diana went to live with the Queen Mother for a while in order to learn the proper ways of royalty. Of the many members of the royal family, she was one of the few to stay well clear of scandals. She was greatly affected whenever any of the royals found their way into the tabloid limelight, of which there has been no shortage.

Most Britons will agree that there was never anyone like her in Britain before, and will never be another one quite like her again. She was a sparkling person that will be greatly missed.