| by Victor Cherubim
( June 04, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Despite the overcast skies, the cold breeze and the rain soaked capital, over a million of Her Majesty’s loyal subjects packed both sides of the Thames and cheered Queen Elizabeth and the Diamond Jubilee pageant of a 1000 boat flotilla. The royal barge “The Spirit of Chartwell” and boats of all sizes and shapes passed under 13 central London bridges and river crossings from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge – a spectacle, observers said, was not seen on such a scale for 350 years, with the nations of the Commonwealth including the flag of Sri Lanka, well represented in the regatta.
“The Queen reigns but does not rule.” Herein lies the secret of her power and position. Elizabeth II is Queen besides in United Kingdom, in 15 Commonwealth Realms. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years since her accession in 1952. As a schoolboy in Sri Lanka and as Sri Lanka was then a Dominion, Her Majesty was, Queen of Sri Lanka. I can recall the buntings and the “pandals” and most important, the school holiday we enjoyed then. Six decades on, of service to the nation and the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth still remains an embodiment of courage with “an acute sense of duty.”
The Queen becomes the second longest reigning monarch United Kingdom has seen, ranking after Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years. It is a labour of love rather than a love of labour, for the Queen to be the monarch, the Head of State and yet remain a private person, an endearing wife and a loving mother to her four children.
Planning her role in her various capacities, Her Majesty we note has always been guided in the Art of Royalty by many. It appears, she has modelled her life in many ways in the tradition of Queen Victoria. We are told she learned her first lessons of selfless duty from Her Grandfather, King George V. Her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, taught her how to remain loved by her citizens and yet be a very private person. Those who have known Her Majesty, her Trainers, not mentioning her Corgi’s, will understand her love of horses and her pet dogs. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will surely admire her devotion to her private interests. Every Prime Minister of United Kingdom and Head of State of every Commonwealth since her accession will also no doubt testify, her care and comfort, her listening abilities, her wise advice and guidance and the trust she places in their regular exchanges of communication. This is second nature to her and has stood her in good stead over the years to overcome all the trials and tribulations of her reign.
Her Majesty has many shades of colour to her personality. She is often seen wearing blue, a colour which she likes, possibly because it denotes royalty. Her wardrobe of colours also reflects the mood of the country. Today, on her Jubilee Day, she was resplendent in a white, possibly a pearl encrusted gown, studded with a large diamond broach, which shone and stood out against the red, white and blue pennants, union jacks and the regalia of her courtiers.
The rain and rain has always accompanied her reign, whether it was on her Coronation Day in London on June 3, 1953 or on her Diamond Jubilee Day, today. To liven up the occasion, she would well have been assured of the love and loyalty of her subjects and also would possibly have not missed the humour of the Duke of Edinburgh, by her side and the royal family accompanying her.
Perhaps, a year ahead, for the Coronation Diamond Jubilee in June 2013, the sun will shine again and we will have another holiday.
( The writer is a freelance journalist. He can be reached at victorcherubim@aol.com )
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