Remembering the late Queen
Died of “old age” and thus, began Operation London Bridge (her funeral plans).
While many people perceived her as a woman of extreme privilege, her life was not without its challenges or personal tragedy. To quote Shakespeare, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”, the late Queen was foremost a woman of duty to both the nation and the commonwealth. Over her seventyyear reign she witnessed great social upheaval, conflict, disaster, and change; yet she never complained or put a foot wrong. Having acceded to the throne at such an early age following the untimely demise of her father, Elizabeth II was keenly aware of her responsibilities leading by example often placing the nation above her family. After all she grew up during the war and was no stranger to sacrifice. And in 2021, who will forget the image of a forlorn Queen in her widow’s weeds, sitting alone, during The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral to respect COVID rules. In her last months, the Princess Royal related that her mother was in a quandary about the possibility of dying while at Balmoral and the added layer of complexity that would bring to Operation London Bridge. Ever practical and pragmatic, she worried that dying while in Scotland might cause inconvenience.
My last personal memories of the Late Queen were from the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in June 2022. I knew this would be the last great event of her reign and so I went to London. Others must have had the same thought. It seemed as if we were millions in the streets to say, along with Paddington Bear, “Thank you Ma’am…for everything”. After decades of wondering, during tea with Paddington, it was finally revealed that the Queen’s black-leather Launer handbag contained a marmalade sandwich “for later”.
For most of us, Elizabeth II was the only monarch we had ever known. We grew up with her. In my family we always had a portrait of the Queen in our dining room, whom as a child I used to think was my own mother. I got my first book about the Queen when I was in Grade II and since that time, I think I have read every book and watched every documentary that was made about her to the point, I can now point out the errors. During those eleven days of Operation London Bridge many of us reflected on her legacy. Like my own mother who died six months earlier, the late Queen was my anchor. She was the guide and compass, leading the nation and commonwealth both in times of joy and sorrow. She was a model of service and dedication, faithful to the promises she made on her twenty-first birthday.
A few years ago, during the COVID lockdown I led a series of Facebook Live cooking shows, including one on laying the table. During that show, I was asked to name one person that I would love to have at my dining table. I immediately responded, “The Queen”. It of course never happened but last Sunday, we celebrated her at my table with a menu comprised of a seared scallop starter, a main course of a lamb and lobster surf and turf with lobster risotto and lemon meringue pie for dessert. Of course there was champagne! We pronounced it a feast befitting a queen.
What are your favourite memories of the late Queen? Let me know at charles@ atasteofoscarlodge.ca