Majesty Forever
Embodying both tradition and progress, Queen Elizabeth II guided us all
Queen Elizabeth II leaves us with a deep awareness of her iron sense of duty and a strong determination to ensure events had her imprint. So, it is really not a stretch to think that in the face of her imminent passing she resolved to hang in there until she could instruct her fifteenth prime minister to form a government in her name. Liz Truss’s call on Balmoral last Tuesday will forever live on as an unprecedented historic moment.
Even though the Queen proved to be as mortal as all of us, she was one of the few royals left on this earth who took her mandate as one handed from God. For her no retirement or sailing off to a quiet island, no, it was up to God to take it back from her and in the end that divine mandate lasted almost seventy-one years. This is key in understanding how she lived and executed that commitment for life, but it also points to the all-encompassing nature of the role for her and for all her family members.
Running the business of a monarchy in a rapidly modernizing and increasingly individualistic society is bound to encounter obstacles. Among the Windsors the resulting casualties were numerous: the Queen’s uncle, sister, daughter-in-law and most recently her grandson, even her favourite son fell out of favour. All of them failed to live up to the royal standards and only the Queen could and would address these transgressions without any apparent emotion. The individual, and that included herself, was ultimately subservient to the institute that represented us all and which was bound by tradition. Without that it would not survive. She in all likelihood did what most of us wanted her to do to preserve the sanctity of the monarchy and what it represents. Through all the ups and downs, left, right, rich, poor, black, white, even the loudest football hooligan, they all supported, respected and loved her majesty. But you may ask: what is that innate loyalty that people apparently feel for an unelected monarch? Is a republic not fairer or easier to maintain?
It may well be, but societies find longevity in tradition, collaboration and the sanctity of institutions. What ages ago could only be found in a deity has gradually been embodied in an earthly representative if I can put it that way. We don’t always fall in love with politicians, have abandoned the church, but we do crave values, stability, familiarity, structure and continuation. For the Brits she embodied that human spirit in a way such that when we look at the Queen and her family we can say: ‘that there, that is us’. It is hard to describe it maybe, but I experience the same thing when I look at the Dutch royals who have remained a constant and who also embody a spirit of nation and tradition that is ingrained in most people. If they had not been around who could have mustered to be the glue to hold the nation together? It is also something that is above all parties: the Americans have royally screwed up by merging the role of a head of state with that of the head of government. So it is not a surprise that many were rooting for the Queen when she had to stick it to those, including her own relatives, that messed with the very traditions and institutions that have sustained us. Our sense of certainty and continuity is built around it.
The Queen’s passing is of course not unnatural at age ninety-six, although it seemed she would live and rule forever. But it is not just the end of her life that we mourn. We mourn that an era that we grew up in, that provided comfort and familiarity is over. It touches the human nerve for nostalgia. That is also why her death at a time of global mayhem, populism and strife is so unwelcome. That is why - if you wonder - you see people crying on the streets of London.
Although this sounds like me building a case for entrenched conservatism, it is not. Within the stable framework that sustains us we can do whatever we like and push the boundaries to progress. The Queen understood this like no other and let the House of Windsor adapt and grow within a thriving global and tech-driven world. She understood how nothing new can be built without the solid foundation of institutions, traditions and groups of people who share the same values. People sensed this. Her poise and style underlined the importance of a strong monarchy. It also helped turn the British royals into a global brand: people all over the world wanted it too. It feels that this week the entire planet is grieving for her.
We all look for stability, we look for the known, for continuation amid change, and we want to be home. In societies that have violently tinkered with old models such as Russia and China, crude nationalist sentiments provide that. Not in the United Kingdom where an ever more democratic and open society was built on age old institutions. Sure there was a moment during Brexit where word slipped that the Queen had questioned the UK being part of Europe. She may not have been above the parties after all, but that maybe proves the point. She could right the ship when it veered off course. Progress within the confines of time tested structures.
All of this is vested in larger symbols such as a crown and a flag, but also in something as mundane as wearing a head scarf to protect your hair, something that looks out of fashion today yet it is so identifiable. It is the homey style; it is our home and we feel and recognize it. The Queen embodied and symbolized and more importantly, she knew how to preserve it for her country and people. We have all learned from it and hope we can find these unique qualities not only in new leaders, but above all in ourselves.
God save the Queen and may her memory be a blessing.