America turned to the old country on Thursday after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Television networks stormed the show when news of her sudden decline broke. It was as if the President of the United States had died. In New York, the US Open tennis tournament and the United Nations held a minute’s silence to mourn her death. In Washington, flags on official buildings were lowered to half-staff.

In a country that abdicated from the throne some 250 years ago, the Queen and royal family have inspired charm, affection, and even jealousy during their 70-year reign.

She met 13 US presidents, starting with a trip to Washington to meet Harry Truman before becoming queen. (Her first official head of state meeting with the US commander-in-chief was with Dwight Eisenhower). President Joe Biden, who stopped by the British Embassy in Washington on Thursday to sign a condolence letter, was the last president to hold an official meeting with the Queen.

“My deepest condolences to the royal family who are not only mourning the Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother,” Biden said in a statement. “Her legacy will have a profound impact on the pages of British history. The story of our world.”

And there were some small but poignant gestures during the official memorial service. It appeared at the gift shop “Ye Olde King’s Head”.