It’s curious that so many 20th century icons have survived as relics this long into the 21st century. There have been a number of belated departures recently, starting with Queen Elizabeth II. Just this past week we also said goodbye to the BBC Arabic Service and the Boeing 747.
What will go next? Perhaps the better question to ask is, what relics have most overstayed their welcome? The usual suspects include: paper money, NATO, the two-party systems in the UK and the USA, the limited liability company, numbered Swiss bank accounts, Italian holidays, Hollywood glamour, the Knesset, nuclear arms control.
Sometimes, though, the things that disappear quickest are the ones we least expect to lose. Prepare to be surprised.