Today’s Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon put on their best blacks out of respect for The Queen to announce her death this morning.
Stefanovic brought his personal touch to deliver the news to Australians. The Queen passed away at ninety-six years of age and had served her country and the Commonwealth for over seven decades.
The woman on our five-dollar bill had dedicated her life to service, and the goodwill bestowed upon her by the public has always seemed to eclipse conversations about royalism. Even advocates for an Australian republic admired the Queen and her dedication to service and duty.
After delivering the news of her death, Stefanovic launched into a personal antidote, “I had the great privilege of meeting her a long time ago now, about 10, 15 years ago at Kirribilli when John Howard was Prime Minister.
“She came in, and she was very slight in person. She looked fragile, but she was just full of energy. Every single person that she met, she engaged with.
“I just completely went to water when I shook her hand.”
Stefanovic explained, “She gave everything of herself to the public, and when you saw her in person, you saw it up close and personal she just had the energy to burn.
“Just an incredible woman.”
He added: “She’s obviously The Queen, but in person, made you feel very comfortable, and I think one of her great skills was that and probably why she was so loved by every facet of society.”
Stefanovic’s warm words about The Queen felt like a worthy tribute. However, that wasn’t the only tribute The Today Show shared.
It also showed footage of both the Australian and Aboriginal Flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge being flown at half-mast as a mark of mourning and respect after the passing of The Queen.
