The Diamond Queen
A seven-mile flotilla of 1,000 boats on the Thames will symbolise the outpouring of love and admiration for Queen Elizabeth II, whose 60 years on the British throne are being celebrated. As the monarch of the world’s oldest secular democracy, Queen Elizabeth II may be the greatest modern anachronism. But so exemplary has been her behaviour, and such a charming icon is she for her nation, that she has made a remarkable success of a reign through 12 Prime Ministers, beginning with Sir Winston Churchill.
In six decades, she has rarely been out of step with the protocols of governance, nor has she been out of tune with the changing times in a life of dedicated public service. Her people may have faulted her for not being seen to grieve enough for the death of her ex-daughter-in-law, the much beloved Princess Diana, and for being too kind to her erring offspring.
Britain has done extraordinarily well under her with even those hating the idea of a monarchy ending up admiring her, although the sun may have begun to set on the British Empire just as a 26-year-old Elizabeth ascended the throne. It is a measure of her incorruptibility, as opposed to venal politicians, that she is a tax-paying monarch who was also a dear friend to many in the Commonwealth, particularly the late Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
While the role of the Indian President is modelled on the British monarch in a crowded democracy, we may have cheapened the process by appointing politicians to an honoured seat symbolising the power and authority of the state. It is never too late to learn from the life and majesty of Queen Elizabeth II.
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