Soon after the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, The Mall was draped in black, thanks to the famous black cabs of England.
No blaring horns, but in silence, the black cabs arrived. One by one, lining The Mall, filling the street until it was closed and no more were allowed in. A poignant tribute that was done for Prince Philip when he passed in 2021.
Queen Elizabeth may have been driven around in a specially designed car, but she managed to connect with the working people of London. Michael Ackerman, a cab driver for 26 years, drove his cab to The Mall. Explaining to the Press Association: “We’re both from London. Liz is a London girl…she’s one of your own, she’s one of ours.”
For some, it was the visual of the honour guard of cabs that brought tears to the eyes of mourners, both in person and on social media. The drivers themselves were moved to tears upon arrival. One driver told ITV: “She’s the only constant we’ve all had in our lives. I just want to show my respects.”
The cabs join the thousands of mourners who turned up at Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen passed away on 8 September 2022 at the age of 96. Sitting on the throne for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch.
