Camilla will help Monarchy endure

IT IS moving and astonishing to recall that the Queen has now reigned for 70 years, long decades of unremitting responsibility, patience, restraint and tact, a burden that came to her far sooner in her life than she had expected.

Few of us could have taken on such a responsibility so early in our lives or endured it, faultlessly, for so long. Incredibly, her life links us with events as distant as the Korean War, the conquest of Everest, and the last Premiership of Winston Churchill.

During all this time she has had to maintain composure and impartiality as our country has witnessed both decline and gigantic change. Her beloved husband, Prince Philip, once wisely said that the Monarch truly serves the people.

This has not been a life of pampered frivolity, and even republicans have been forced to acknowledge that we are hugely fortunate in our Head of State. Now, in a fitting gesture for this memorable moment, Her Majesty has made it clear that Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be Queen Consort when Prince Charles ascends the throne.

How right that she should do this now and make it clear that it is her personal will. Camilla has quietly found her way into the hearts of the British people by her unassuming good humour and obvious personal warmth.

At an age when most of us would want to put their feet up, she has taken on Royal duties in a human, down-to-earth way, and is obviously the strength and stay of our future King.

The announcement will be widely welcomed. And so we can all join today in both wishing the Queen continuing long life and good health, and in feeling confidence that the great institution of the British Monarchy will endure into the future, whatever it brings.