‘Representing the Crown is my greatest privilege’

I WOULD like to join everyone in the UK and across the Commonwealth in their celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

We are not simply celebrating the duration of her reign, but the impact that she has had, both in her role as a head of state and the personal impact she has had on countless people.

For me, I have been privileged to have served as a member of the Royal Household, when I was appointed a government whip and minister of the Crown in the government. I was the first British Indian to serve in the role, which entailed representing her and carrying out privileged duties on her behalf. Tasks I was bestowed by the Queen included receiving heads of state on behalf of the government, and even the repatriation of the late president Sata’s body back to Zambia, which I undertook with the Countess of Wessex.

Representing the Crown is perhaps my greatest privilege in life. It reflects the fact that the UK is a great and inclusive country to make a life in. The fact that a Ugandan-Asian who came to this country as a refugee can walk the corridors of powers in parliament is an example of how much things have changed in the UK with the help and guidance from the Queen.

Like many other East African Asians, I admired the Queen before I even set foot in the UK, and it has only continued to grow since. The Queen has always had a soft spot for Africa, as it was in Kenya which she visited as a princess and left as a queen in 1952. Many East African

Asians, having grown up in British colonies, remember that moment vividly.

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians this year, we also reflect upon the compassion she has provided to thousands of immigrants coming to this country to start a better life. All who come are humbled by her humility and have subsequently pledged allegiance to her upon becoming British citizens.

When deciding the title of my book, I therefore settled on A British Subject as it expressed my feelings towards the Queen and the UK perfectly.

While there are many things that have changed over the last 70 years, one thing we have been able to rely on is the dedication to public service from the Queen. Many people will have countless stories of how she has impacted their lives, either through being a role model or when they had the opportunity to meet her. It is not something that is easily forgotten as she takes as much time as she can with people and shows an interest in who she is speaking to.

Last week a debate was held on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in the House of Lords, and many people made wonderful contributions to it. It was certainly a debate to be remembered as across the House, members paid tribute to the impact the Queen has

made both in their lives and in our politics, setting an example of service and dedication that we can all learn something from.

As a fellow champion of the Commonwealth, we could not have asked for a better leader than the Queen to have guided us for many years. I would also like to pay tribute to her demonstration of how to live your faith as well as accept and celebrate those of other faiths.

During her reign she has met more international

leaders than any living person on this planet, five Popes, 14 UK prime ministers and countless heads of state from other countries. The Queen’s service to the UK began before she was crowned, as she served where she could in the Second

World War. Her dedication to service are best summed up in her own words, spoken 70 years ago, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

It is this devotion and level of service that has made the Queen one of the most recognisable and admired people across the world. I wish the Queen all the best in her celebrations.