The king – or queen in this case – is dead, long live the king; a seemingly contradictory phrase that accurately describes how Queen Elizabeth’s death on 8 September – and Charle’s consequent coronation – simultaneously marks the end of an era and the start of a new one. As the western world, along with world leaders, warmly welcome Charles’ ascension to the throne, some Egyptians are reminded of Diana – the ‘People’s Princess’ and a significant Egyptian pop culture figure during the turn of the twentieth century. To Egypt, Britain is intertwined with a colonial past. Diana, on the other hand, was a symbol of love, compassion, and, eventually, tragedy. ELIZABETH’S EMPIRE VS. EGYPT While some Egyptians, including President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth, very few mourn the empire she leaves behind, and the colonial cloud that continues to loom over its history. Egypt became a victim of Great Britain’s colonial ambitions in 1882, occupying the country until 1957 – during Elizabeth’s reign. Egypt and Britain continuously clashed over the years, from independence struggles in 1922 to overthrowing the British-influenced Egyptian monarchy, culminating in the…
While the West Welcomes King Charles, Egypt Remembers Princess Diana
September 15, 2022
