It was my mum, my grandma, and the queen.

I was really upset; I was crying when I found out.

The day after the Queen died, I called Phoebe at Rentstart and told her: “I’m so upset that it feels like I’ve lost a family member.”

There was my mum, my grandma, and the Queen.

I do feel I am the last chapter of the generations that grew up with the Queen in the way I did. I was born in 1966, and was only a child at the 1977 jubilee. The celebrations are still with me today, I was dressed up as Bugsy Malone – the film had just come out. It was one of the best street parties that I’ve ever been to. It felt like we were celebrating a family member. She represented a fearless attitude and I was brought up with that behind me.

Christmas and special occasions we would all sit around the TV and there would be a hush. We’d all naturally pay attention to the screen. She always had a positive spin even if it was a negative situation. She had the ability of making us all feel a bit better, like a grandma does, and just conveyed a feeling of looking out for us over the years.

Through the sadness, I’m looking forward to seeing Charles as King. He has felt similarly present in my life. I did the ‘Prince’s Trust’ bricklayers’ course when I was at college. I’ve always been interested in what he’s had to say about the environment. I even named my son after Charles.

It feels like a new chapter.

Dean,

Rentstart Tenant