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Hi, FT Weekend listeners, this is Lila. On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II died.

She was 96 years old and she ruled Britain longer than any other monarch in its history,

for 70 years. Over the last seven decades,

the Queen has been a symbol of stability and resilience. She was a monarch and a matriarch.

This weekend, millions are mourning her death and remembering her life.

Outside of the Commonwealth, we're used to leaders coming and going, but the crown is different.

If you're British, the Queen has likely been there your entire life.

She swore in all the prime ministers you remember, 15 of them, and she was everywhere,

on the money, on TV, on the mug in your grandmother's cupboard. However, you may feel about the

crown as an institution, the Queen was always there. We knew the Queen was on well on Thursday

and likely to pass away imminently, so I asked the editor of FT Weekend, Alec Russell,

to join me to reflect on her legacy. I remember meeting her. I met her the first time I met her.

Alec had put his phone on silent as we were talking, and midway through our conversation,

the official announcement came. Alec, I have to tell you that the announcement just dropped

that the Queen has, in fact, died. Oh, my goodness. I think the nation will be utterly stunned,

and I think a lot of people will start crying. I think it's going to be a very sad week or so,

particularly obviously for older people. I think people in the 70s and 80s, but actually, I think,

right through the country. Oh, my goodness. I don't really know what to say. I don't know what to say.

Can I ask how you're feeling? I don't really know. I feel there's a huge sense of loss,

and I think that obviously, moments like this, it's easy to get over sentimental,

but she was a truly, truly remarkable person, and she has really, really helped Britain navigate

...