Friday, September 9, 2022

The love that stands the test

Well, giant cracks have appeared in the earth’s surface, the sun did not come up this morning and Queen Elizabeth II has died.

There will be very few around the world who recall a time when Elizabeth did not sit upon the throne of the United Kingdom and at the head of the Commonwealth. They were positions she inherited at age 25, and responsibilities she did not shirk until she drew her last breath yesterday at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland.

You may have gathered that I’m not a fan of empires, nor do I see much of a point to monarchies, genetics being what they are. I also wonder to what extent HM could be said to to have been a leader to Brits who were not White Christians. But in my inconsequential opinion, Elizabeth was a diligent head of state, showing up on time and hitting her marks for seven decades as a representative of Great Britain, whether it be at the opening of a new council office or a state dinner for foreign dignitaries.

Not all of this would have been pleasant—she broke bread with the likes of Idi Amin and Cadet Bonespurs (who may or may not have tried to smuggle an entire pork roast back to Air Force One under his formal attire) without breaking stride. Why, only on Tuesday she greeted both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss with civility, even though the 15 prime ministers she saw come and go during her reign got lower and lower on the animal kingdom scale with each turnover. Gotta give her marks for that.

Also, I love this story about her: 

The 96-year-old monarch has finally hung up her spurs and joins her husband, probably in Windsor Castle, for some much deserved rest.

So my earworm today is “I Vow to Thee, My Country”, which was sung at her coronation in 1953. This hymn was also featured at the funerals of Princess Diana, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher and is a regular staple of the Festival of Remembrance service held annually at Royal Albert Hall.

This video is from Thatcher’s funeral. You might want to crank up the volume; it’s worth it.


 

 

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