🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
An internationally renowned drag queen has told Newsweek of the shocking moment she learned of Queen Elizabeth II's death.
British drag queen La Voix was performing on the P&O Cruises Britannia cruise ship and happened to be recording a TikTok video, when the captain made an announcement about the monarch's death.
The Britannia was one of two P&O Cruises ships the queen had named alongside the fleet's Oriana vessel, and her portrait even hung in the atrium.
Standing on an outdoor deck of the ship, La Voix had started filming a birthday greeting in full drag for a fan when the announcement came on the loudspeaker.
The drag queen revealed many of those on the Britannia didn't even know the queen had taken ill, so her death came as a complete shock.
"On board the cruise ship, unless you are connected to the Wi-Fi or watching the news in your cabin, then you don't really know what is going on in the outside world..." La Voix told Newsweek. "For a lot of passengers, the news of her passing would have been the first they had heard.
"There was a real somber mood on board and dozens of guests crying.
"Walking through the ship after the news and seeing the guests on board around her portrait sobbing will stay with me for a long time," she said.
In the video La Voix posted to TikTok under the username lavoixtheshow, the captain can be heard saying: "I am sorry to interrupt your day, but it is with deep regret I have to advise you that it has just been announced from Buckingham Palace that Her Majesty the Queen has died."
In that moment, La Voix covered her hand with her mouth in shock.
The captain went on to say the queen had "attended many events on our ships, over many years."
When the captain finished the message, La Voix took a moment to gather herself.
"Oh my darlings, I'm sending you lots and lots of love," she said to the camera. "What terrible news to receive, to be on board a ship called Britannia that has the queen's portrait hanging in the atrium is an honor to remember the moment this is where I was when we heard this historical news."
"Darling, I'm sending you lots of love. Take care," said La Voix.
The drag queen, who was a semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent, revealed the enormous impact the queen has had on her career.
"The queen held a very special place in my heart as I had the privilege to perform for the Royal Family on two occasions, so it felt a little more personal as we had a connection," La Voix said.
"The queen symbolizes the United Kingdom to me - you think of the U.K. and you would think of the queen."
La Voix added she admired the monarch's "strength and her incredible ethic" of continuing to work right up until her death.
The drag queen regularly performs on board P&O Cruises in the Limelight Club. She also starred in Ab Fab: The Movie and competed on the Graham Norton-hosted reality singing competition Queen of the Universe.
Queen Elizabeth passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday following a historic yet contentious 70-year reign.
Her funeral will be held on September 19, beginning at 11 a.m. BST, and for four days prior to the funeral, she will lie in state at London's Westminster Hall.
A national bank holiday has been declared in the United Kingdom for the day of the funeral.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more