The world will surely miss a truly majestic Queen
QUEEN Elizabeth II’s reign spanned 70 long years, making her the UK’s longest-reigning monarch. From the early age of 26 to the ripe old age of 96, she was indeed a queen for all seasons.
No Hollywood or Bollywood actress could ever rival her. She was the star attraction in London. Like bees to honey, world leaders from far and wide came to London to pay homage to her. Prime ministers, presidents and political and religious leaders all loved to meet the queen, to have tea or dine with her.
For tourists, too, Buckingham Palace is a must-see attraction, to see the age-old, medieval tradition of changing of the guards and maybe catch a glimpse of the royals on the balcony.
But the queen rarely made public appearances. Behind the high walls of the castles and sprawling gardens, she and her family led a secluded life far removed from the prying eyes of the public and the media. Seldom did the public get a glimpse into the private lives of royalty. Maybe there was a good reason for this. If they appeared too often in public, it would become commonplace and the public would lose interest in them. The newcomers to royalty like Diana and Meghan found the atmosphere within the castle walls too oppressive and rebelled. And there was her own disgraced son Prince Andrew involved in a sexual scandal.
A stickler for tradition, and ceremony, she followed a rigid routine of rules, etiquette and manners befitting a queen from a bygone era. She was indeed the embodiment of royalty. Despite the tensions and turbulences in her family and the nation, the queen showed that she was made of sterner stuff.
She remained composed, steadfast and remarkably resilient in the face of adversity. All along she remained committed to her family and the British people. She was the bedrock of her family and the nation. And so she went on, decade after decade, never wavering in her devotion to the British people and her public commitments and duties as head of the British nation, its territories and the Commonwealth.
In his tribute to the queen, King Charles III said she had dedicated her whole life to selfless duty to the nation. Biologically, the blood in her veins may not be any different from ours. But you could feel her royal presence when you were with her. She exuded elegance, poise and refinement.
Though she may not have had the power of life and death over her subjects, she still commanded persuasive powers, respect and authority. Prime ministers may come and go but she seemed to go on forever, until finally, she fell victim to the ultimate conqueror of all of humanity, Death. The world will surely miss a truly majestic queen. London will not be the same without her.
Like her or not, she was the most recognised face on the planet.