Interest in this under-stated monarch has been rejuvenated of late because of the success of the cinematic block-buster, 'The King's Speech' which I have gushingly written about here, here, and here.
I've always had an interest in the Royal Family - an interest that begat a more general fascination and love of history in the whole as I mentioned in my blog here.
A Second Elizabethan Age?
Today therefore sees the 59th anniversary of the accession to the throne of our current monarch, George VI's daughter, Elizabeth II.
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| Queen Victoria (1837-1901) |
Whatever the reader's individual's view of the monarchy may be, I hope that all can take a dispassionate view on what has been a rather incredible reign.
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| King George III (1760-1820) |
Elizabeth II is currently the 3rd longest reigning monarch in British history. She is now just 96 days short of eclipsing the then record set by George III, her great-great-great-great grandfather who passed away on January 29th 1820 after 59 years and 96 days on the throne. Elizabeth II will surpass this date on May 13th.
The only monarch of course to have reigned for more than 60 years is the current's great-great grandmother and grand-daughter to George III, Queen Victoria. She reigned for 63 years and 216 days when she passed away on January 22nd 1901. Elizabeth II, already Britain's oldest reigning monarch, would take the title of the country's longest reigning monarch on September 10th 2015. She would be 89 years of age at that time.
A World of Change
She has lived through a transformation in British society and in global relations, as did her great-great grandmother, these past 59 years. She has seen 11 Prime Minister's come and go and David Cameron is now her 12th.
Her reign has encompased the build and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the arrest and imprisonment, release from captivity, Presidency and retirement of Nelson Mandela and the sounds of Chuck Berry, Elvis, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, ABBA, Dire Straits, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Blur, Oasis, the Spice Girls, Take That and all of this modern music from the past decade.
Family Strife
She has seen her family live a typical late 20th century lifestyle.
Her sister, her only daughter and two of her 3 sons have all married and divorced. Between them all, they have done much to bring the institution of monarchy into disrepute. For which reason, its future can not be laid out before us easily. Will the public want King Charles III (or George VII as he'll probably be known) and his wife Camilla to lead us? Will they want a jump to another generation under King William V? What will happen to the dominions? Will Australia cut away and elect its own Head of State and will other countries from the former Empire follow?
That is all for the future, but what can not be denied is that the current encumbant has gone about her life and duties over the past 59 years in a roubstly professional and respected manner. She has devoted her life to the public service of her country which she sees as being 'God's will' - a devotion that her uncle King Edward VIII was unwiling to commit and which led to his abdication and the accession to the throne of her father. If she has the constitution of her mother who passed away at the age of 101, then there's no reason why she can't go on to her 90th year and eclipse the mark of Victoria.
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| Queen Elizabeth II (1952-Present) |
Whatever happens to her and to the future of the family line which she has endeavoured to resolutely uphold despite many personal family setbacks, one thing can be certain on this the 6th day of February - her father, now being made famous by Hollywood, would be proud of his daughter.
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