Death of Elizabeth II: inflation, energy crisis… In the United Kingdom, the hard return to reality

It is a page of British history that turns this Tuesday. Across the Channel, the English return to normal life after ten days of tributes following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. After more than a week of emotion, the return to reality is difficult. Inflation, energy crisis, social anger… The outlook for the country is darkening and undermining the morale of the population.

“The monarchy has not changed anything”

So in Hyde Park in London, some say it frankly: they followed this funeral ceremony from afar. This is the case of Eileen who ensures that the parenthesis of national communion will be quickly closed. “The problems remain, they have never disappeared. The monarchy has never changed anything. It’s the government’s problem and that one is awful”, she explains at the microphone of Europe 1 .

Concerns widely shared in the English population, like Kathleen, a young retiree: “These are such difficult times for the United Kingdom. And what saddens me is that Elizabeth could not die at a worst time”, she underlines, before adding: “Now, we do not really know in which direction the country is going. I hope it will be the right one”.

British optimism

And if the future seems difficult in the short term, some English people remain optimistic and stress that this national link around the Queen will be beneficial in overcoming future crises. “People have seen what has happened in recent days and maybe they will reflect on what the union of the country can bring. And they may say to themselves that there is strength and unity in this country,” says Nick.

Not sure, however, that this message resonates. The angry strikes, which began last summer and the social movements suspended during the period of mourning, could well resume quickly this fall, when inflation is now close to 10%. A record for 40 years in the United Kingdom.