Apple Forgoes Usual Marketing To Mourn The Queen A Day After iPhone Launch
Apple’s homepage depicting portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Dorothy Wilding, photographed in 1952, from the collection of National Portrait Gallery, London. Screenshot via Apple
On Wednesday, Apple’s keynote got the world’s attention. The very next day, everyone’s thoughts were with the Queen.
In memory of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8 at the age of 96, Apple promptly turned its homepage black and white, as well as displayed a portrait of the longest-serving monarch taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding in 1952.
“In Memoriam: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the text on the main page currently reads.
Apple has changed their website to memorialize Queen Elizabeth II
— sgtbonsai 🇺🇦 (@BonsaiSgt) September 9, 2022
The fact that they changed it the day after a major product drop shows the respect Apple has. pic.twitter.com/fSaoq7bFsF
The tribute is particularly honorable, seeing as how Apple normally updates its website soon after products are launched to reflect the new lineup. This time around, it was tactful and removed all mention and imagery of the new gadgets from the homepage, acknowledging that this isn’t the time to promote the flagship iPhone 14 range.
Apple has previously paid homage to other prominent figures on its homepage, including Steve Jobs, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, and John Lewis, reports MacRumors senior reporter Joe Rossignol.
The Verge’s Tom Warren shares on Twitter that other tech giants have joined Apple on paying their respects on their homepages.
Microsoft, Google, and Apple are all marking the death of Queen Elizabeth II on their homepages pic.twitter.com/WdOFXUg8kp
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) September 8, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign is succeeded by her son and heir King Charles III. Royal websites have also gone into mourning mode in her honor.
