A Brief History of the Private Life of Elizabeth II
Page 24
The Queen’s own death is something she has always contemplated with equanimity. Devout in her Christian beliefs, she has no qualms about passing on to what Victoria called ‘a more equal world’, though as Alan Bennett has her remark in his play An Englishman Abroad: ‘I suppose, for someone like me, heaven will be a bit of a come-down.’ Plans for her eventual funeral have been in readiness ever since she came to the throne, though this is standard for all senior royals. They are updated annually by a committee, and known by the code-name ‘London Bridge’. (The Queen Mother’s funeral arrangements were ‘Tay Bridge’, and Prince Philip’s are ‘Forth Bridge’.) Once approved by this, the details are sent to the groups that would be affected: the City of Westminster, the Ministry of Defence and, naturally, the police. This is necessary because of what would be involved: the inviting of Heads of State from all over the world, the need to accommodate the international media, the deployment of troops and the closing off of parts of central London. The Queen’s executors need not worry over where she will be buried or what the inscription on her tomb will say. All of that has long-since been settled. She has chosen her coffin, and apparently took great pleasure in fine-tuning the arrangements. It is a curious fact that Royals often do enjoy planning their own funerals. Lord Mountbatten had worked out in exhaustive detail how his was to be conducted.
When the Queen’s funeral actually takes place – when ‘London Bridge’ is put into effect – the outpouring of affection will be massive. It will be on a scale not witnessed in Britain since the death of Victoria, and – since we are a more emotional people than the late-Victorians – probably greater. It will be a bigger event than anything in more recent times except, perhaps, the funeral of Gandhi.
When King George VI died the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, laid a wreath on which were the simple words: ‘For Valour’. This is the motto engraved on the Victoria Cross. For the King’s daughter, whose overwhelming personal attribute has been undaunted, persistent personal courage, no lesser tribute would do.
Is Elizabeth II the best monarch Britain has ever had? It is difficult to say, for such a judgement must be conditional. There have been others who fitted the spirit of their age and who displayed the qualities necessary to lead the country through difficult or even catastrophic times. There is, in any case, no British Mount Rushmore on which the best few are represented. It is something of a cheap journalistic trick to say that the Queen’s reign has been one of ‘unprecedented change’, for there is no era in modern history that has seen anything other than furious, ceaseless change, and contemporaries no doubt always thought of this as ‘unprecedented’. What cannot be denied is that since the Second World War, Britain’s position as a great power has collapsed with the loss of Empire and the shrinking of its ability to influence world affairs. This has meant that, to an extent no one could have foreseen, the burden of maintaining national prestige has fallen upon her shoulders. She has succeeded in carrying that burden for 60 years without making a single error, and that is a monumental attainment. Her calming influence, her tact and wisdom, her ability to make friends for Britain and to preside over the Commonwealth (an organisation that would almost certainly not still exist were it not for her devotion) have gained for her, and by extension her country, a continuing status. For the country this will rise and fall according to circumstance. For Queen Elizabeth it is something that time is very unlikely to erode. She has been blessed by Fortune with a temperament suited to her unique role, a series of good advisors, a supportive husband who has made his own contribution to history, and a reign that has lasted long enough for her to build great achievements. By any yardstick, and in any aspect of her life and work, she is a truly great figure, and those of us who are her subjects will always have good reason to be thankful that we have been New Elizabethans. The moment it has ended, her reign will be seen as a golden age – a time of stability and prosperity and creativity. Rather from awaiting that signal for an outburst of nostalgia, we would be wise to appreciate now the time in which we live.
FURTHER READING
Bradford, Sarah – Elizabeth, QPD (Quality Paperbacks Direct), London, 1996
Colville, John – The New Elizabethans, 1952–1977, William Collins, 1977
Clark, Brigadier Stanley, OBE – Palace Diary, Geo. Harrap, 1958
Crawford, Marion – Happy and Glorious, George Newnes, 1953
Crawford, Marion – The Little Princesses, Cassell & Co., 1950
Dimbleby, Jonathan – The Prince of Wales, Little, Brown & Co., 1994
Duncan, Andrew – The Reality of Monarchy, William Heinemann, 1970
Edwards, Anne – The Queen’s Clothes, Express/Elm Tree Books, 1976
Fisher, Graham and Heather – The Queen’s Life, Robert Hale, 1976
Hall, Unity – Philip: The Man Behind the Monarchy, Michael O’Mara Books, 1987
Harris, Leonard – Long to Reign Over Us?, William Kimber, 1966
Harris, Marion – The Queen’s Windsor, The Kensal Press, 1985
Hoey, Brian – The Royal Yacht Britannia, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1995
Hoey, Brian – Her Majesty: Fifty Regal Years, Harper Collins, 2002
Jay, Antony – Elizabeth R., BBC Books, 1992
Kenny, Mary – Crown and Shamrock, New Island, Ireland, 2009
Kiggell, Marcus, and Blakeway, Denys – The Queen’s Story, Headline, 2002
Longford, Elizabeth – Elizabeth R., Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1983
Morrah, Dermot – The Work of the Queen, William Kimber, 1958
Nickolls, L.A. – The Queen’s Majesty, Macmillan, 1957
Noakes, Michael & Vivien – The Daily Life of the Queen, Ebury Press, 2000
Oakey, David – The Queen’s Year: A Souvenir Album, Royal Collection Publications, 2010
Piggott, Peter – Royal Transport, The Dundrun Group, Toronto, 2005
Pimlott, Ben – The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II, John Wiley & Sons, 1997
Prokashka, Frank – The Eagle and the Crown: Americans and the British Monarchy, Yale University Press, 2008
The Royal Tour: A Souvenir Album, Royal Collection Publications, 2009
Shawcross, William – Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother: The Official Biography, Macmillan, 2009
Whiting, Audrey – Family Royal, W. H. Allen, 1982
INDEX
A
Abdication crisis ref1, ref2, ref3
Aga Khan ref1
Ajca, Mehmet Ali ref1
Albert, Prince ref1
Alice, Princess of Greece ref1
Altrincham, Lord ref1
Andrew, Prince see York, Andrew, Duke of
Andrews, Anthony ref1
Anglican Church ref1, ref2, ref3
Anne, Princess Royal
birth ref1
and Queen’s Coronation ref1
passion for riding and eventing ref1, ref2, ref3
education ref1, ref2
character ref1
marriage ref1, ref2
attempted kidnap of ref1
created Princess Royal ref1
It’s A Royal Knockout ref1
Olympic sportswoman ref1
divorce ref1
apartheid ref1, ref2
Armstrong-Jones, Antony see Snowdon, Earl of
Ascot Week ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) ref1
Aureole (Queen’s horse) ref1
Australia
Queen visits ref1, ref2, ref3
constitutional crisis ref1
republicanism ref1
Charles and Diana visit ref1
B
Badminton ref1
Baillie-Grohman, Vice-Admiral Harold ref1
Ball, Ian ref1
Balmoral ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
‘Balmoral test’ ref1
Queen’s honeymoon at ref1
BBC
Christmas broadcasts ref1, ref2
Royal Family ref1
Elizabeth R re
f1
Diana’s Panorama interview ref1
Beatles ref1
Beaton, Jim ref1
Beatrice, Princess ref1
Benenden ref1
Benn, Anthony Wedgwood (Tony) ref1
Bennett, Alan ref1
Berlin Wall ref1
Blair, Tony ref1, ref2, ref3
Blitz ref1, ref2
Blunt, Anthony ref1
Boston, Massachusetts ref1
bouquets ref1
Brabourne, Lord ref1
Bradley, Omar ref1
Brazil ref1
Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth ref1
British Empire
Princess Elizabeth’s broadcast to ref1
dissolution of ref1
British Guiana ref1
Broadlands ref1
Bryan, John ref1
Buckingham Palace
Princess Elizabeth moves to ref1
wartime bombing of ref1, ref2
Queen moves to ref1
garden parties ref1
Queen’s office ref1
opens to the public ref1
daily routine at ref1
Buckingham Palace Guide Troop ref1
Burgess, Guy ref1
Burmese (Queen’s horse) ref1, ref2
C
Callaghan, James ref1
Cambridge University ref1, ref2
‘Camillagate’ ref1
Canada ref1
visits to ref1, ref2, ref3
separatist movement ref1, ref2
Casson, Hugh ref1
Ceausescu, Nicolae ref1
centenarian telegrams ref1
Channon, Sir Henry ‘Chips’ ref1
Charles, Prince of Wales
birth ref1
childhood and upbringing ref1, ref2, ref3
and Queen’s Coronation ref1
education ref1, ref2, ref3
emergency appendectomy ref1
closeness to Queen Mother ref1
sensitivity ref1, ref2
relationship with parents ref1, ref2
investiture as Prince of Wales ref1, ref2
walkabouts ref1
coordinates Silver Jubilee celebrations ref1
meets and marries Lady Diana Spencer ref1
character ref1, ref2, ref3
married unhappiness ref1
‘war of the Waleses’ ref1, ref2
public criticisms of ref1
Camillagate ref1
public humiliation ref1
agrees to pay income tax ref1
Dimbleby interview ref1
admits adultery ref1
divorce ref1
marries Camilla Parker Bowles ref1
Charteris, Martin ref1, ref2
Cheam school ref1
Child, Sir Hill ref1, ref2
Children’s Hour ref1
Christmas broadcasts ref1, ref2
Churchill, Winston ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
Civil List ref1, ref2, ref3
Clarence House ref1, ref2
class politics ref1
Clinton, Bill ref1
Cold War ref1, ref2
Colville, Sir John ref1, ref2
Colville, Commander Richard ref1
Commonwealth ref1, ref2
postwar changes ref1, ref2
Princess’s broadcast to ref1
Commonwealth Games ref1
Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference ref1, ref2
Communist Bloc, collapse of ref1
Concorde ref1, ref2
Connaught, Duke of ref1
corgis ref1, ref2, ref3
Cornwall, Camilla, Duchess of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Coronation Chicken ref1
Coronation Coach ref1
coronations
George VI ref1, ref2
Queen ref1
televising of ref1
Coty, René ref1
Court Circular ref1
Coventry ref1
Crawford, Marion ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Crossman, Richard ref1
Crown jewels ref1
D
Dad’s Army ref1
Daley, Janet ref1
Davis, George ref1
debutantes, presentation of ref1
Derby (horse race) ref1
Diana, Princess of Wales ref1, ref2
marriage ref1, ref2
qualities ref1
unhappiness ref1, ref2, ref3
celebrity status ref1, ref2, ref3
friendship with Sarah Ferguson ref1
Diana: Her True Story ref1
bulimia and self-harming ref1
‘war of the Waleses’ ref1, ref2
divorce ref1
ex-Royal ref1, ref2
Panorama interview ref1
public affection for ref1
death of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Dimbleby, Jonathan ref1
divorce, public attitudes towards ref1, ref2
Douglas-Home, Alec ref1
Dunfermline (Queen’s horse) ref1
dynastic marriages ref1
E
Eden, Anthony ref1
Edward the Confessor ref1
Edward, Prince see Wessex, Edward, Earl of
Edward, Prince of Wales see Windsor, Edward, Duke of
Edward VII ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Edward VII (TV) ref1
Edward VIII see Windsor, Edward, Duke of
Eisenhower, Dwight D. ref1, ref2
Eliot, T.S. ref1
Elizabeth I ref1, ref2
Elizabeth II, Queen
CHARACTER & ATTITUDES
charm ref1, ref2
economy of speech and emotion ref1, ref2
mystique ref1
sense of service ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
dutifulness ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
tidiness ref1, ref2
wit and humour ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
awareness of protocol ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
shyness and reserve ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
non-confrontational nature ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
professionalism ref1, ref2, ref3
apparent aloofness ref1, ref2
dislike of facial hair on men ref1, ref2
considerate of staff ref1, ref2
hospitality ref1, ref2, ref3
voice and diction ref1, ref2
talent for mimicry ref1
thriftiness ref1, ref2, ref3
apolitical ref1, ref2
political awareness ref1, ref2, ref3
courage ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
ability to judge the public mood ref1, ref2
timelessness ref1, ref2
fixed tastes and habits ref1, ref2, ref3
food and drink preferences ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Christian beliefs ref1
FINANCES
Civil List ref1, ref2
Philip’s comments on ref1, ref2
income tax exemption ref1, ref2
Parliamentary Enquiries ref1
public criticisms of ref1
Queen’s personal wealth ref1
Windsor Castle fire ref1
agrees to pay income tax ref1
decommissioning of Britannia ref1
INTERESTS
outdoor activities ref1
politics ref1, ref2
reading ref1
horses ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
dogs ref1, ref2, ref3
jigsaw puzzles and crosswords ref1, ref2, ref3
television ref1
art and antiques ref1, ref2
PERSONAL LIFE
clothes and style see wardrobe
family tragedies and adversities ref1
never interviewed ref1
birth ref1, ref2
early public interest in ref1, ref2, ref3
early years ref1
first public appearance ref1
&nbs
p; biographies ref1, ref2
‘Lilibet’ ref1
family homes ref1
childhood amuseuments ref1, ref2
education and training ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and the Abdication crisis ref1, ref2
childhood expeditions ref1
moves to Buckingham Palace after father’s accession ref1
and George VI’s coronation ref1
wartime life ref1
first broadcast ref1
theatricals ref1
Colonel of the Grenadier Guards ref1
Councillor of State ref1, ref2
joins the ATS ref1
driving abilities ref1, ref2
first public speech ref1
marriage speculation ref1, ref2
21st birthday ref1
‘Commonwealth’ speech ref1
first married home ref1
birth of Charles ref1
in Malta ref1
birth of Anne ref1
first transatlantic flight ref1
and Margaret’s relationship with Townsend ref1
birth of Andrew ref1
birth of Edward ref1
Christmas celebrations ref1
church attendance ref1
motherhood beliefs ref1
Silver Jubilee ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Scottish cruise ref1
grandchildren ref1
good health ref1, ref2
intruder at Buckingham Palace ref1
annus horribilis ref1
appearance ref1, ref2
and the death of Diana ref1
50th wedding anniversary ref1, ref2
Golden Jubilee ref1, ref2
80th birthday celebrations ref1
daily routine ref1
president of Sandringham Women’s Institute ref1
correspondence ref1
‘London Bridge’ (funeral arrangements) ref1
PUBLIC LIFE
meeting the Queen ref1
place in world history ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
ubiquity in British life ref1
workload ref1, ref2
charitable patronage ref1
visits South Africa ref1
visits Canada ref1
visits USA ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
in Kenya ref1
Privy Councillor ref1
becomes Queen ref1