I did wonder what might happen were the Queen to die without there being time to edit the crossword in the paper the next day to remove the reference to ER. As it happened, my puzzle the next day had a Rex and a Regina, both innocuous enough in their contexts. I cannot remember which of the various puzzles I have in various pipelines will have ER in them – some won’t be appearing until well into next year. By then we should be far enough away from the events of the last few days for it not to be a problem. It will probably be several years even before ER has to be ‘old Queen’ (as is needed for the odd occasion one gets to use VR; thinking of which, has anyone ever seen AR?) since she will be the only female regnant monarch for quite some time.
The words in the clue pile this week did not throw up much in the way of CRs – just DECREPIT, which was not auspicious. No doubt they will come in due course.
Anyway, the garden calls, and there’s something bigger coming next time, so I shall be brief. The puzzle this week could be said to be under royal auspices, as it’s from the Church Times, very nearly exactly four years ago. My next Church Times puzzle is still a way off – November, in fact – it’s one outlet where you do get a good deal of notice. Others are a little tighter in the notice stakes – I can note that there’s another puzzle squeezing into what I had down as a spartan September: a Toughie on 29 September. coming shortly after a Times puzzle on 26 September. The Independent Friday slots continue, though there’s a rejig for one week which I’ll mention next time.
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Often far too much is made of coincidence when they occur, which by order of chance they must. I am not sure which, if any, crossword HRH ERII did, but I suspect she would not be unamused to find respectful reference within.
Happy gardening, or thoughtful contemplation as the mood and weather dictates.