Dignity and fortitude at every turn

Love or loathe the institution of the monarchy in Britain, it is impossible to deny the incredible contribution made to the life of this country by the Queen.

Having ascended the throne unexpectedly as a young woman, the youthful Queen could easily have crumbled.

But instead she began to plot the sure-footed and steadfast path that was to become the hallmark of her now 70-year reign.

That remarkable feat of public service is better understood when put into a historical context.

The youthful Queen could easily have crumbled

The Queen’s first prime minister was Winston Churchill.

A further 13 residents of Downing Street have followed.

The “hit parade” was dominated by figures such as Dame Vera Lynn, Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby.

She has reigned through periods of international strife, of national tragedy and triumph and, like any other mother, has suffered her own family indignities, scandals and worse – all in the glaring heat of the public eye.

But throughout it all she has maintained her counsel and acted with dignity and fortitude at every turn.

The Queen’s detractors are never far away, but in seven decades on the throne her missteps have been few and far between and she – and the institution she heads – has moved with the times.

Part of her success as a monarch has been down to her love affair with Scotland – a haven for her and her family to relax and recharge away from the public eye.

Balmoral remains among the Queen’s favourite homes, but Glamis is also dear to her heart and she has spent many happy times visiting and performing her duties across Tayside and Fife.

Despite the passage of time, those visits continue to live long in the memory for local people.

The Platinum Jubilee is a celebration of a life devoted to this nation. No one deserves it more.