Our Queen's Diamond Anniversary

Sixty years ago today, on 6th February, 1952, our Queen, who was then Princess Elizabeth, received the news of her father's death. Her father was King George VI. His death meant she would now be Queen Elizabeth II.

She had left the UK days earlier as Princess Elizabeth; she returned as Queen.

  Her husband would no longer be able to carry on in his much-loved career in the Navy - from now on, he would be the Queen's consort. She would never again make decisions for herself that spoke of personal choice or personal ambition.

Her coronation took place a few months later, a very public ceremony marking what she now was: HRH Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

(Just to be pedantic - she really isn't Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, because she is the first 'Elizabeth' to be Queen of Great Britain. When Queen Elizabeth I was Queen, Scotland had its own monarch. The two crowns were joined when James VI of Scotland became King of a 'united' kingdom. So, HRH Queen Elizabeth is Queen Elisabeth the First .... really. Not that I'm pedantic or anything ;)

With her beloved horses: our Queen at her happiest ...

HRH has served this nation and the Commonwealth for sixty years. Most of us have only know life in her reign. In our country, even some of the most ardent anti-Royalists tend to have no bad word to say against our Queen. 

(Even President Obama, of that Republic across the water that chucked our Monarchy all these years ago, had nothing but praise for our Queen, having met HRH when he visited our shores.)

When Obama was in the UK, in May 2011, I read an article in The Times. Here's a flavour of what was said.  

President Obama has spoken of his family's strong friendship with the Queen on the eve of his first state visit to the UK.

In an interview with the BBC, he described the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as "extraordinarily gracious people” and said they represented “the best of England”. The Obamas have kept in close contact with the Queen and the Duke since they first met in 2009, exchanging letters and speaking of the phone.

(I shall excuse the whole 'England' thing ... indeed.)

Apparently, when they met first, at a reception before the G20 summit in 2009, they hit it off immediately. They appeared relaxed together and shared jokes.

After a photocall for G20 leaders, Mrs Obama and the Queen were seen with their arms around each other's backs, with a palace spokeswoman describing it as a "mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation". As they said goodbye, the Queen was overheard asking Mrs Obama: "Now we have met, would you please keep in touch?". They have since spoken on the phone and written to one another.

In the interview broadcast yesterday, Obama said, "They are extraordinarily gracious people. They could not have been kinder to us."

He revealed that his wife and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, rode in a carriage when they were given a tour of the palace during a private trip to London in late 2009. "She could not have been more charming and gracious to the girls," he said. "They actually had a chance to ride in the carriage on the grounds. I think what the Queen symbolises not just to Great Britain, but to the entire Commonwealth, and obviously the entire world is the best of England. And we’re very proud of her.”

Mr Obama was asked about his conversations with the Queen, who has met every one of the 12 US Presidents since she came to the throne in 1952, with the exception of Lyndon Johnson.

"What you find is that there's a lot of wisdom to be found if you're willing to listen," he replied.

Can you imagine? She has met every US President since 1952 (except Johnson). How many people have come and gone, and she has been an unchanging feature of our nation's life. No wonder President Obama had to say that there was 'a huge amount of wisdom to be found in her'.

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Throughout these decades she has seen a great deal of change in our nation - economically, socially, morally; she has lived through turmoil and personal grief; and in every situation in which she has found herself, she has given her time, her energy and her commitment to the nation over which she is monarch. She has never been heard to complain even when the national press printed page after page of articles criticising her and her family, vilifying them, and mocking them. Throughout it all, she has carried herself with dignity and grace wherever she has gone.

I think few could have failed to notice her sheer joy on the day of Prince William and Catherine's wedding. Surely most observers felt a real desire to share in her quite evident joy at seeing the outpouring of affection and support from the crowds of onlookers. She was delighted! And I, for one, was delighted for her! I hope that day gave her some idea of just how much we appreciate her, and yes, her family too.

Her Majesty's official Diamond Jubilee message, released today, is as follows:

Today, as I mark 60 years as your Queen, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years and to tell you how deeply moved we have been to receive so many kind messages about the Diamond Jubilee.

In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth. 

I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart as we join together in our celebrations. 

I send my sincere good wishes to you all.

ELIZABETH R.

I can assure Her Majesty that, seeing as actions speak even louder than words, we know her dedication to our nation to be without reproach. 

I can also assure HM (not that she reads my blog, you understand ...) that the support which was so apparent and public over 2011 was but a public display of how we feel.

God bless you, our dear Queen. My greatest prayer for you is that you would know the King of kings for you, like us all, will one day bow the knee to the Eternal King.

Rejoice.... and Weep

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" Romans 12:15

Today we rejoice with those who rejoice:

 

The beautiful bride arriving at Westminster Abbey.

Her dress was simply stunning. She was simply stunning.

He did - eventually - manage to push the ring onto her finger!

 

The newlyweds then pleased the hundreds of thousands of well-wishers with a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

We truly do rejoice with them, and pray God's blessing on them.

 But today, we also weep with them that weep:

The family who write at A Baker's Dozen Barnhouse News are devasted. The blog post you will read at this link was written less than a week ago, but following the tornadoes of this past week, this family has lost everything. Worse, though, than the loss of all their worldly possession, Mr Lee, husband and father, was killed when their home was destroyed.

Mrs Lee is having to cope with the death of her husband. Their children are having to cope with the loss of their father. Obviously, wordly possessions do not compare with family members, but to have lost the head of their home - their 'rock' - and to have to grieve without the comforts of home and their familiar surroundings, is an unimaginably difficult burden.

Read about Mr Lee's last act of protecting his family here.

Such joy for Prince William and his bride today.

Such devastating sorrow for Mrs Lee and her children. 

Both the rejoicing couple, and the sorrowing family are in our prayers. We can only take them to the Lord, who is able to supply all their needs - whether spiritual, emotional or material.

"Blessed be our God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort" 2 Corinthians 1:3

Weather, William and Weddings

We've become aware of the terrible storms that have hit parts of the USA. We are remembering those who've been affected in our prayers. Please let me know if any of you, or your loved ones, are affected.

Our weather is much more mundane. Although many people here in Lewis spend a great deal of time complaining about the cold, the wind or the dampness, I'm guessing that the pictures we're seeing from America will put things in perspective. It certainly ought to! 

Tomorrow's weather forecast for London has, of course, become a main news story. Ironically, London is forecast to have showers, whilst we, in Lewis, are being promised sunshine. William and Kate ought to have planned a Lewis wedding. Maybe they'll honeymoon here!

One day I'll tell you where we spent our honeymoon. I'll also tell you where we could have spent it. Another story for another day.

We wish all the best to Prince William and to Kate, who will soon be Princess Catherine. Their positions are of great privilege, but with privilege comes responsibility. Our prayer is that they would look to the King of Kings, primarily for their salvation, and for their guidance and comfort too. One day, they - like the rest of us - will bow the knee to King Jesus.

At the moment, the final preparations for the wedding are taking place: the red carpet is being rolled out just now. Kate's walk down the aisle on that carpet will take three-and-a-half minutes. She is made of stern stuff if her knees do not buckle on that walk. She is certainly very beautiful. Let us hope for a marriage of honour, happiness and blessing. We will continue to pray for them, as we do for all our Royal Family. 

There is no worldly pleasure they cannot afford to have - and yet, they do not have the freedom to live as they choose. It's not a life I envy. I am thankful to have been born a 'commoner'. I can say that truly 'unto me the lines have fallen in pleasant places' (Psalm 16)

(I have a Twitter account, and have had for a long time, though I've never used it. Tomorrow's wedding may just cause me to get it up and running! Watch this space...)