WHAT an emotionally intense week it has been. Regardless of whether you consider yourself a monarchist or not, you are unlikely to have been completely untouched by the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

Many have spoken about a sense of loss, with some feeling almost overwhelmed by grief and sadness. Others feel more detached, with some expressing surprise at those grieving for a person they had never met.

Either way, it came as quite a shock to most of us to see the Queen still working on Tuesday and then suddenly have to come to terms with new of her death two days later.

I would suggest that whatever our personal feelings are, we should be compassionate to those around us who may have been taken by surprise by their strength of feeling in recent days.

The subject of death brings many emotions to the fore. It can easily trigger memories and feelings associated with losses of our own. When a well-known figure passes away it is also a reminder to all of us that no-one is immune from death, no matter how wealthy or famous they may be.

Whilst of course we all know that rationally, we tend to get used the fact that certain people are ‘always there’. When suddenly that changes and in fact they are not there anymore we are forced to face reality, as well as a sense of our own mortality, in what can feel like a very harsh way.

The Queen had been the monarch for longer than most of us can remember. Her passing also involves a change in the Head of State that very few of us have had to confront before. In what have been very turbulent times recently, the Queen was to many a figure of dignity, calm and reassurance.

Her existence has been the one constant in a sea of change. People felt as though they knew her even though they may well only ever have seen her on television.

Some have even said that she felt to them like a member of the family. Now, there are inevitably more changes ahead.

I will always remain in awe of the fact that the Queen was still carrying out her public duties at the age of 96. There are many hard-working and stoic people in the world but very few are still working at that age.

I was also struck by the fact that although she had a life of privilege in many ways – The Queen was also forced to make many sacrifices in her service to the country. She may not have had to worry about paying the bills, but it must sometimes have felt unbearable to constantly have to live every single aspect of your life in the often unforgiving public eye.

She may have enjoyed considerable wealth, but she had far less in terms of genuine freedom. I hope that in amongst all the duties that King Charles III is currently expected to perform, he also has the chance at some point to grieve for his mother in private.

However you have experienced the events of the last few days, remember above all to be compassionate towards yourself. No-one has the right to tell you how you should or should not be feeling. If the loss of the Queen has stirred up unexpected feelings of loss or sadness, then be reassured that this is a normal reaction to the loss of a much-loved and respected public figure.

Take the time to reflect and process your emotions, share your memories with people who understand and find support if you feel you need it. Brits have a history of coming together in difficult times and I feel confident that that is exactly what our late Queen would most wish us to do now.