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It’s midnight. I’ve been writing all day and now I’m sitting at my desk wondering how to define a ‘good Queen’.
On my third cup of tea, I realised that the answer to that question lay in those exact words. Queen Elizabeth was inherently good.
Devoid of greed and ego, she ruled as our Queen with respect for the laws and principles of her country, however, far more than that, she ruled with love.
This was evident from her genuine smiles and multiple daily acts of kindness that her and her staff bestowed on the public 365 days a year.
A good person and indeed a good Queen, makes considerate decisions. A good kind person cares genuinely about the impact of their actions and words upon the people around them. A good person acts with patience and love, showing restraint even during incredibly testing times, especially being the head of the Royal Family with their own private lives being made public by the press at every possible juncture.
It’s my firm belief that being inherently good was due to her upbringing and her her vow of truth.
In her coronation speech in 1953, she accredited her virtue and attitude to her lifetime commitment to her mother and predecessors’ example.
Then, although my experience is so short and my task so new, I have in my parents and grandparents an example which I can follow with certainty and with confidence.
Therefore I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendor that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God’s Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen.
Proof that instilling good family values are just so critical in order to be upheld throughout generations. Yet beyond her upbringing, her choice to be the best she could be, and to be kind, became who she was.
In her coronation speech she continued to say the following words which became the guiding star to her life:
The ceremonies you have seen today are ancient, and some of their origins are veiled in the mists of the past. But their spirit and their meaning shine through the ages never, perhaps, more brightly than now. I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.
I honestly don’t think she ever let herself forget those words.
She kept her promise every day as she held her head high and remained true to herself, true to her vow of leadership and true to her people.
I’ve always marvelled at her sacrifice; never able to simply meander through a village, stop at a cafe or walk in the park with her beloved dogs with the freedom that us every-day folk have. I’ve never taken her sacrifice for granted. That’s why my father and I waved our flags with much gusto, appreciation and love at every occasion we possibly could. Alongside millions of others, we heralded her reign and cheered her on.
What an incredible effort she made to represent our country in as many engagements and meaningful ways as she could during her life.
She witnessed countless prime ministers, rolled her sleeves up and served in the war, met and heard thousands of stories of loss and triumph over adversity. Never complaining. Never relenting on her vow.
In times of trouble she rose to the occasion and rallied the country’s nerve to stand strong with her. In times of celebration she stood, smiled and enjoyed the pageantry with her family.
She respected tradition whilst being charmed by the new.
Whilst anyone who met her would say it was a privilege, she always intimated that the privilege of meeting so many members of the public who had gone out of their way to achieve something extraordinary with their time, was all hers. Their flair, their commitment to their cause and their inspiration were simply all reasons for her to wake up in the morning ready to serve her country again.
Whilst she inevitably experienced the highest level of grandeur, she had such a wonderful nature, to be able to hold conversations with royalty, dignitaries and anyone else who came across her path. Quite an ability to hold yourself with that level of reserve and esteem, yet be approachable to millions.
What an impact she’s had on so many people that she’s never met due to her values and her energy in upholding them. What an inspirational woman. What a life!
So what are we left with now?
How can we ensure her good nature is reflected in our own decisions and we continue to follow her example?
To do this, I honestly think, regardless of whether you met her in person or whether you admired her from afar, ask yourself: what specifically did you admire about her? Perhaps ensuring that you’re aware of what you loved about her, will make it all the easier to channel it with intention, every day, just like she did.
I’ll go first. For me her ability to do the following through the ebbs and flows of life will always be her legacy:
Her ability to stay strong and work hard through the tough times, then celebrate the good times
To choose grace over grumbling
To support those in need with dignity and respect
To listen with love
To be kind, always.
Whether you class yourself as a royalist or not – it’s obviously no secret that I am – I do believe that if you channel her beautiful character, her legacy of kindness and grace will live on.
Looking at all of the good deeds and hard work that her son Charles, now King, has undertaken already in his lifetime, I do believe that the United Kingdom and all its territories are poised for a king who is already living and breathing his mother’s values.
The entire team at Capital Business Media and Business Matters wish to extend their sincere condolences to the Royal family.
I personally wrote the following words on one of my Golden Birdie wonder boosters: ‘Even the wildflowers think you’re wonderful’ … because to so many, she was the epitome of wonderful.
Rest in peace ma’am. You’re reunited with Phillip now and I hope you’re hand-in-hand and giggling at something he’s said.
Thank you for your unfailing service.
Cherry Martin
Cherry is Associate Editor of Business Matters with responsibility for planning and writing future features, interviews and more in-depth pieces for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.
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