You know what they say about London buses: you wait ages for one then two come at once. So it is with blogs.
This week (6 February, in fact) marks an historic day for Britain. 60 years ago, a young Princess became Queen.
It was a Britain very different from today. Still a colonial power in much of the world. Still recovering from the horrors of the Second World War. There was one, black and white, TV channel. Space travel was the stuff of comic books. Truman and Churchill presided in Washington and London. De Gaulle was in internal exile in France.
It’s extraordinary to think about how Britain and the world have changed since our Queen came to the Throne. This year she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years on the throne. An amazing achievement.
I had the privilege of meeting her almost exactly a year ago. She was as intelligent, engaged, interesting and interested as everyone who has met her says she is. She is an amazing example of duty, discretion and devotion.
I was asked by a Swedish politician recently why Britain loved its monarchy so much. I said my own personal view was that it was partly that everyone loves a family story, with new generations sustaining interest.
Also that people respect the lifetime of service The Queen has given to Britain and the Commonwealth.
It’s also I think something romantic. In a world of business plans and business problems, of jargon and job cuts, there’s something attractive in an institution that represents different traditions and values.
But it’s an institution that exists by being close to people, which, day in day out, supports British business, communities, ideas and events.
Today, like every day, The Queen and her family will be out in the community, visiting schools, hospitals, factories, farms. Hundreds of visits, every year for sixty years.
May there be many more to come! God Save the Queen!
Tags: Diamond Jubilee, The Queen
Hear, hear! She is a remarkable woman, and I am dreading the day when she feels she has had enough. I’m not worried about successors, I fear that any powers she has to oppose some of the government’s less charitable ideas may disappear with her.
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