London, (Parliament Politics Magazine)- In 1952. I vividly recall the shock of the death of King George V!. I was in Oxford Street and everyone was standing still and absolutely silent.
A year later my brother and I had seats outside Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. My father had a seat in the Abbey. It was a cold and wet June day but everyone was in high spirits cheering all those entering the Abbey, especially Queen Salote of Tonga, who defying the pouring rain sat in an open carriage.
Over the years I have had the great privilege of meeting the Queen on manyl occasions. One Sunday I was at a service at the Chapel Royal., while I was staying at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The Queen must have been told that my dog had died. After the service she came up to me as I was standing outside with my husband and said “ I am so sorry to hear you have lost your dog.”
It was a wonderful example of her kindness (and excellent memory).
She had a marvellous sense of humour and ability to make everyone she met, including me , feel that I was at that moment the only person who mattered.
The tributes across the world, the outpouring of grief and affection, the crowds lining the streets and the enormous queue to see the Lying in State reflect the recognition of an unique person and a truly wonderful Queen.
Elizabeth Butler-Sloss
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Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss GBE was appointed to the House of Lords as an independent peer in 2006. She was President of the Family Division from 1 October 1999 – 6 April 2005, and the first lady Lord Justice of Appeal (from 1988-99.) She was chairman of the Cleveland Child Abuse Inquiry 1987-8.
Lady Butler-Sloss is Chairman of the National Commission on Forced Marriage (NCFM) and former Chairman of the Commission on Religion and Belief in Modern-Day Britain and Chairman of Visitation of Exeter Cathedral. She is co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking, a Trustee of the Human Trafficking Foundation and a former member of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Advisory Panel and of The Westminster Abbey Advisory Panel. She currently chairs the Ecclesiastical Committee, (a statutory Parliamentary Joint Committee). She is married with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.