London, (Parliament Politics Magazine)- As our nation and Commonwealth mourn the loss of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom she understood so well will bear its pain, keep calm and carry on. In that spirit, with the new Carolean age dawning, in remembrance we can reflectively value the glorious second Elizabethan era on which the sun has set.
Most people who possess power first seek it. Queen Elizabeth II never sought it – as the eldest daughter to a second son, power was truly thrust upon her. Yet, as she wielded authority, she did more fundamental good and brought more benefit than almost anyone in public life, and for much longer.Â
Most people with influence expect plaudits, but, for Her late Majesty the Queen, acclamation, when it became obvious to her just how much she was loved, was greeted with humility and grace. In an age of vain celebrity, her humble graciousness reminded us of a better time, before the narcissism of ‘stars’ took hold.
Most of those who lead expect to bring change. Yet, constancy was her gift to the nation—she was a permanent part of who we are as a people. It is not that the late Queen was behind the times; she was beyond the times.Â
Her sense of humour was a part of her appeal— it was so obviously palpable that she could charm even those who were not intuitively or instinctively in favour of the monarchy.Â
I met her many times, but I did not know her. Few people knew her well. But simply knowing she was there was enough, for the Queen was perpetually in our consciousness. Not many people think of the sun and the moon, but we know that they are there. We rely on the sun coming up in the morning and we expect to bask in the light of the moon, so it was with Her Majesty. Our days are a little dimmer and our nights are a little colder for her passing, for she was in all of our lives for so long.
The Queen wore the crown, but of course she was not the Crown. The Crown has a permanent life beyond any individual, and now the institution she graced is secure in the hands of her son and heir, our King. That our nation has seamlessly proclaimed, with heart and voice, King Charles III is a testament to the unshakeable foundations, strengthened by his mother, of this ancient and venerable institution.
The Queen, whose life lasted so long, personified dignity. There was a beauty about her grace—a quiet, enduring, moving beauty that touched hearts and made memories.
Now that the Crown passes to her dear son, our new King, we must hope that in his sorrow he will know that his grief is shared with all his people. His late mother will remain not merely as a memory but a presence in the Crown itself.Â
May God, as he welcomes Her Majesty to heaven, keep and bless her successor, Charles III. God save the King.