Queen Elizabeth has been a constant throughout my life. Her accession to the throne was in February 1952, the year before I was born. Her coronation was in June 1953, just two months before my birth. My Daddy was on a US Navy ship that was sent to England that summer and missed my birth. My mother was thankful that he arrived home to Arkansas when I was only a few days old. I read that 1 in 5 people in Britain are like me and remember no other monarch.
As I have thought about the Queen since her passing last week, the phrase that kept coming to mind is that she has always been a part of my life. I realize that is a weird statement about someone that I never met, never even saw in person. Yet I have been interested in her life for as long as I can remember. I have watched documentaries and TV shows and read books and magazines to 'know' her as best a person can.
I love her because she was the personification of duty, service and commitment. Of course I don't believe that she was perfect. I cringe at some of the stories of her 'mothering', like leaving young Charles and Anne with the Queen Mum for 6 months for a Royal tour when they were so young. I am sure that she could have done more to help Princess Diana.
In her words just after the year that she called her ‘Annus Horribilis, she said
“I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge the events of this tumultuous year. I dare say that history will take a slightly more moderate view than that of some contemporary commentators. Distance is well-known to lend enchantment, even to the less attractive views. After all, it has the inestimable advantage of hindsight.
But it can also lend an extra dimension to judgement, giving it a leavening of moderation and compassion - even of wisdom - that is sometimes lacking in the reactions of those whose task it is in life to offer instant opinions on all things great and small.
No section of the community has all the virtues, neither does any have all the vices. I am quite sure that most people try to do their jobs as best they can, even if the result is not always entirely successful. He who has never failed to reach perfection has a right to be the harshest critic.
There can be no doubt, of course, that criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution - City, Monarchy, whatever - should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don't.
But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society and that scrutiny, by one part of another, can be just as effective if it is made with a touch of gentleness, good humour and understanding.”
When I think of Queen Elizabeth’s life, all the drama, the gossip, the divorces and the scandals, I think of my own family and the families of friends. None of us are perfect. What would it be like to have every foible and flaw the subject of worldwide gossip, TV commentary, editorials and even movies and TV shows. Would I react with the grace and humor that she did? Would I learn from mistakes and do better in the future? Her treatment of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle (at least in the early days of Meghan) seem to indicate that she did learn from the tragedy of Diana. I admire her ability to adapt to a world that is so very different from the world she knew 70 years ago when she became the Queen. We all have adjusted, grown and learned but few of us had to do it on the world stage as has Queen Elizabeth.
I will miss her smile, her bright suits, and her big purses. The world will never forget the Paddington Bear Video nor the ‘mission’ with James Bond for the London Olympics.
I am comforted that she is with her beloved Prince Philip who was by her side for 73 years.
As King Charles said, ‘May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’
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