I have to come clean with you about something.
I’m a monarchist.
Weird huh?
I mean the Royal Family is pretty rich and yet they receive taxpayers money?
They’re well off and probably look down at people like me. So why should I care about them?
I was 17 when Princess Diana died and I can tell there were a lot of people angry at the Royal Family then and wondering if they could survive.
Yet to paraphrase Julian Fellowes they are like any other family and like no other family. They reflect our times and hold up a mirror of ourselves going through them.
During the funeral in 2002 for the Queen Mother watching her grandchildren in naval uniform march behind her casket and hearing tales of the Royal Family during the war. I thought, “Yeah, I get it.”
That need for pomp and pageantry may seem ridiculous and extravagant but it is needed. Look at America, they’ve been trying to replicate it with their Presidents and First Ladies but it seldom works the same.
Besides the Royals get to be above politics, part of how they endure and how they never quite seem to be important. But I believe they are and on the 5th of April Queen Elizabeth II proved my point.
A 94 year old who had lived through the times we were trying to draw inspiration from now summoned a new resolve and pride in us to come through this all too current and ongoing crisis. For her closing words the camera cut to a close-up that had been saved up until that point and the monarch eyeballed straight down the lens to the individual viewer.
“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
God Save the Queen.
-Lloyd Marken
Er… Well, you already know… 🙂
Enough said.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you Pete. Best wishes to you and yours.
😉
You got me, Lloyd, I read it with my usual indifference when I read about the British Royals… and the you had to go and bring in Vera Lynn singing ‘We’ll meet again’. That song brings tears to my eyes every time’. When I got the lump out of my throat my first words were ‘Alexa, play Vera Lynn singing ‘We’ll meet again.’ And the lump came back in my throat.
Stay safe and for an encore play Vera singing about the bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover.
I always liked a Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. And Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover. Watch the Queens speech. The woman is a pro. Even if royalty ain’t your bag baby. You take care where you are Don and thank you for reading.
I used to compere for a musical group who did Vera Lynn covers amongst other songs. They were always an audience favourite. Lots of misty eyes every time:)
You are a woman of many talents.
The Queen’s broadcast was extremely good and brought tears to my eyes as well.
Thank you John, glad I’m not alone. John Oliver certainly wasn’t moved.