We have lost more than just a monarch. Elizabeth II represented something far beyond the trappings of royalty embodied in one mortal being. Her absolute dedication to duty, her regal bearing, and her steadfast adherence to British values, instead of trends, distinguished her as probably the most revered statesperson in the world for a hundred years.
Dignified retirement in old age was never an option for her and she got her wish to ‘die in harness’. There were never any ‘duvet days’, sick notes or employment tribunals for hurt feelings. She knew what had to be done and got on with it – no complaining and definitely, no explaining!
In this age of emotional incontinence, she, very cleverly, kept her opinions to herself, a rare quality in these days of ‘whatever is on your mind is on your tongue’. Her Tudor forbear, Elizabeth I’s motto was: ‘video et taceo’ – ‘I see and keep silent’. Whilst we didn’t know Elizabeth II’s opinions, and I am sure that she must have nursed one or two over the time, we are aware that she was a very intelligent woman with many diverse interests. The 15 Prime Ministers who spanned her reign were often subject to pertinent questions about the nation’s affairs and, apparently, she was able to complete the fiendishly difficult Times Cryptic Crossword in 15 minutes.
Her dignity and strength of character gave the impression that she was immortal, which is why her demise was so traumatic when it came. It was the moment that her adoring public thought would never arrive, even though it should have been the most predictable outcome of a 96-year life span.
She transcended all demographic and national boundaries. Despite an aristocratic lifestyle adorned with palaces, chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royces, and an army of domestic staff, she never gave the impression that she was Marie-Antoinetteish nor inspired any form of politics of envy, which is a Faultline very much endemic in this country. Even the staunchest republicans did not begrudge her these luxuries, yet our Prime Minister must drive, a non-descript, understated car, certainly not a Rolls Royce, and live and work in a terraced house, so as not to ignite the class war desired by some malcontents. In an age of ruthless egalitarianism where nothing is sacred, the Queen was somehow unimpeachable.
When an anti-monarchist shop owner in Scotland gloated over Elizabeth’s passing, the place was vandalised twice in protest at this tasteless gesture.
The late Queen Elizabeth ll was not just the Queen of this country, nor just the Commonwealth – the USA (amongst the other countries) adopted her as if she was their own and I know first-hand, from my many American friends, that their grief is palpable and real, such is the respect they have for our monarchy.
The Queen’s obituary was front page of nearly every newspaper in the World, even, amongst the adversarial countries along the ‘axis of Evil’.
It shows the empty folly of anti-royalist views. The Crown plays such an important part in reinforcing why Britain is so great, not just for its people, but on the world arena. The Queen and the British Monarchy is one of the most-recognised global ‘brands’ and represents values far beyond any ‘Cool Britannia’ pop-culture gimmickry. She carried a heritage stretching back to King Alfred the Great in 886 and intuitively, her subjects recognised that she represented something eternal, if not ethereal, which embodied everything that is British.
The UK may technically be the 6th largest economy in the world, but when you account for its soft and hard power, we are arguably more influential, and probably in the top three. Our cultural influence is omnipresent, and this is, in part, due to the Queen and the culture of the UK. We still carry a huge moral weight in the world, far beyond our economic status.
The technological age has made us far more distracted, and the public gets bored very quickly of the usual media personas. However much Thatcher was adored during the ten years of her reign, even the staunch conservatives became weary of her, and thirsted for a refreshment. ‘We know the price of everything, but the value of nothing’, according to Oscar Wilde. Not so with the Queen, whose popularity became more resilient with time and her unbreachable bond with the nation, since ascending to the Throne as a 25-year-old, had not yet reached its crescendo when she died.
Such is the reverence for her that her funeral could be the most universally attended event of any individual in the last hundred years. Monarchs, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Sheiks, Chiefs, potentates, dignitaries will all flock to London to be amongst the ‘great and the good’ of the World, next week. How do they adore the pomp and ceremony of a fully-fledged State funeral, the like of which this country has not seen since Churchill?
Let’s hope that King Charles lll has learnt from his incredibly astute late mother (as opposed to his ancestor Mad King George), that discretion is the better part of valour and keeping one’s royal nose out of public affairs is an essential pre-requisite to a monarchical long shelf-life.
Although he’s carried out some valuable charitable work via the Prince’s Trust, King Charles’ views on architecture and the environment are not universally appreciated by the cognoscenti.
The late Queen embodied the heart and soul of this glorious country. Let’s hope she is now at peace with her beloved Philip, in heaven, hopefully keeping a watchful eye over this sceptred isle (Shakespeare, Richard II).
She will be missed.
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” Queen Elizabeth II