By Richard Fitzwilliams, royal commentator, is available for comment on 07939 602 749(www.richardfitzwilliams.
The Queen surpasses Queen Victoria’s record (63 years, 7 months, 2 days) on September 9th and will be opening the new Borders Railway in Scotland and is expected to briefly refer to this unique record. The major celebrations will occur when the Queen celebrates her 90th Birthday next June.
Since her broadcast from Cape Town at the age of 21 when she promised to serve her people all her life, the Queen, a deeply religious person, has carried out this pledge brilliantly.
The purposes of a monarchy are as a symbol of national unity (she has been but there is a question mark over Scotland as part of the union), continuity (few have known anyone else, in a changing world she reassures), the projection of soft power (the Queen’s state visit to Ireland in 2011, in my view the highlight of her reign, is a brilliant example of this), the headship of the Commonwealth (she has kept it together) and she heads the world’s most high profile monarchy. British business, tourism, and charities all benefit enormously from the activities of the royal family. She is the font of honour (the system has much improved in recent years despite outrageous exceptions). She is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith, (it is unclear in our multifaith society how long monarchs will keep this title in the future).
The low point of her reign was in the 1990s, a decade which included her “annus horribilis” in 1992 and which included the tragedy of Diana’s death and royal scandals.
The Duke of Edinburgh, her “strength and stay”, has served her and the institution of monarchy superbly, if sometimes controversially.
She is the oldest ever monarch, the most travelled, the most depicted, from Annigoni’s portrait which was wonderful to Lucien Freud’s which was a failure.
The monarch’s powers are to advise, encourage and warn. Her duties in our unwritten Constitution include a weekly audience with her Prime Minister and reading the Speech from the Throne at the Opening of Parliament. Her Christmas Message is her own and eagerly awaited with social media spreading the word very well. The institution of monarchy denies powers to others and is above party politics. However, the Queen seems almost certain to have an avowed republican, Jeremy Corbyn, as the next Labour leader.
The monarchy is popular in Britain and in her 15 other Commonwealth realms. Its future with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge so happy together and Prince George and Princess Charlotte also the objects of world fascination, seems assured.
One of the important aspects of the Queen’s rule is that we don’t know what she thinks. The Prince of Wales when he ascends the throne will have to rule in a similar way. She may not have given her name to an age but she has been an outstanding example of service to this one.
