Well Done – A Platinum Jubilee

Yesterday was an historic day to be sure. February 6, 2022 marked 70 years since Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, making her the longest serving monarch in English history.

CBS News published this report:

And now a page from our “Sunday Morning” Almanac: February 6, 1952, 70 years ago today … the day Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, became Queen Elizabeth II.

Her ascent was sudden.

The princess was in Kenya, on what was to be a five-month overseas tour, when her father, King George VI, died. Word of his death first reached Elizabeth’s husband, Philip, who told his wife the news that would change their lives forever.  

As one newsreel reported, “The new queen left immediately for London, where her uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, and Earl Mountbatten, uncle of the Duke of Edinburgh, were waiting to welcome the girl who left as a royal ambassador – and returned as a queen.” 

Leading up to February 6th, she received countless letters and cards from people thanking her and wishing her well on her Platinum Jubilee.

One of the most notable came from Chris, a 9 year old who sent her his Recipe for a Perfect Queen:

She has seen every kind of crisis, national and personal, and weathered them all. She has personified the British war time slogan: Keep Calm and Carry On.

And she has more than lived up to the promise she made to the people of the Commonwealth on her 21st birthday via radio address from South Africa. Said the then young Princess: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong…”

And serve and lead her people she has, and continues to do. She is leading and wanting to create a smooth transition of power when it is time for her son, Prince Charles to take the throne as King. She surprised many when she issued a letter on Saturday, the day before her Platinum Jubilee, in which she stated her wish for the British people to recognize Charles wife, Camilla, as Queen Consort “when that time comes”.

Prince Charles acknowledged his mother’s service to her people publicly in a letter of his own and expressed his gratitude at the expression of her wish for Camilla to one day be known as Queen Consort.

It is remarkable that she has served and led these past 70 years with an honor and dignity and humility rarely seen anymore from those in places of authority. What is also remarkable is that her letter is not signed Your Queen, Elizabeth . She has signed her letter simply as:
Your Servant
Elizabeth R

For the reasons of her graciousness, service and her humility, and a myriad of other reasons too, your Two Chums applaud and say of this Queen, Well Done!