London, (Parliament Politics Magazine)- Thursday 8th September 2022 not only marked the passing of our longest reigning Monarch, but the closing of one of the most significant chapters in our history.Â
The Queen represented stability within our country and continuity of not just our nation but of the Monarchy itself. She could represent such values however whilst also embracing the technological progress which marked her lifetime. The commencement of her reign marked the coming age of television whilst her death was announced by the Royal Household on Twitter. The hundreds of thousands of people who have queued to pay their respects to the Queen in Westminster Hall have been joined by many more viewing the dedicated online stream of that solemn procession.Â
One of the defining aspects of our Monarchy is to encapsulate a millennium of history whilst also pointing to the future. As the country marks the end of this Elizabethan era we know our nation will never be the same, yet we also give thanks for our new King. The warmth of the greeting he has received is not a contradiction to the grief expressed for his mother, but a representation of hope for the future and the passing on of a legacy through the generations.Â
Those of us who were privileged to meet her Majesty were always struck by her sincerity and the real personal interest she showed in everyone she met. That dedication and interest was present whether she was meeting a young child presenting her with flowers or dealing with issues of national or international importance. The passing of someone so remarkable has inevitably led to a search for an appropriate title which can adequately sum up her life and reign.
Her Majesty penned a letter on the eve of the 70th anniversary of her Accession to the throne. It concluded with two words which perhaps sum up that reign better than any others. Above her signature were simply the words “your servant”. For me, that sums up why the title of “Elizabeth the Faithful” is the most accurate and most fitting title that for our late Queen.
There can be few people now who are not aware of the speech made by the then Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday. The pledge that her “whole life, whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service” was sincere and it was kept right until the end of that very long life.Â
The tributes paid to her by members of the Royal Family are not mourning the death of their Queen, but of a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. As we shed our tears we should be very aware that there stands a family who are mourning such dear loss, but sharing that grief with us all as a nation.Â
The Queen was faithful to the duty handed down to her from her father, a duty unexpectedly thrust upon him, but the example which he set was undoubtedly one carried on by his daughter. She in turn has shown faithful dedication to her family, and offered them an example which will be to the benefit of our nation over coming years and decades.Â
The Queen gave faithful service not just to our nation, but to the family of nations which makes up the Commonwealth. Prime Ministers have benefitted from her wise guidance, and so too have leaders from across the globe. She was unceasingly faithful to the intangible but vital role of a constitutional Monarch in our political system. The ‘soft power’ which the United Kingdom is recognised to have, comes in no small part from the status of our Royal Family and in particular from Her Majesty the Queen. In carrying out that role, she never sought to make the focus about herself, but always about the people she served.Â
In signing that letter “your servant”, Queen Elizabeth demonstrated the servant leadership demonstrated by the King whom she looked to for example and guidance. The Queen’s steadfast faith in a risen Christ shone through not only in her much-loved Christmas messages but through her life and actions. The Bible story most often referenced by the Queen was that of the Good Samaritan. She referenced the parable many times throughout her life and underpinned her firm belief that whilst occupying a position of great profile, each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of God.Â
In the book of Matthew there is the parable of the talents where the master says “Well done, good and faithful servant”. Her Majesty the Queen was undoubtedly a good and faithful servant, rightly worthy of the title Elizabeth the Faithful; faithful to her family, to our nation and to God.
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Maurice Morrow was the first DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY member to be elevated to the House of Lords in 2006 taking the title of Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley.
He served on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council for some forty years.
He was member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for eighteen years where he served as a Minister on two different occasion.
He is presently chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party(DUP)and has been for twenty one years.