God Save the Queen
Today a one-thousand boat flotilla will make its way along the Thames through central London, at its head, seated on the Gloriana, first royal barge built in more than a century, a seemingly unremarkable little old lady--except, of course, that just six decades ago that little old lady was crowned Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the British dominions beyond the seas, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
Now, I am very happy to see evidence, in the replies to James Delingpole's post, below, that the republican spirit remains alive and well here at Ricochet--see in particular Skylar's comment. Yet on this day--just one day, Skylar--even we Americans might do well to pause to appreciate that remarkable little old lady. In the Wall Street Journal, John O'Sullivan, former speechwriter for Prime Minister Thatcher, explains why:
In his Victorian study of the monarchy, Walter Bagehot warned, "We must not let daylight in upon magic." Modern communications do just that. Sometimes for the best—we know that the Queen is a brave and resourceful woman. In 1982, she calmed down a madman who had gained entry into her bedroom at Buckingham Palace. She is unaffectedly religious. She is devoted to her duty, not as a prisoner of ritual but as a practical sovereign working to preserve the monarchy as a focus of multicultural loyalty in a diverse world—and succeeding beyond any reasonable expectation.
Sometimes not for the best—a late threat to her success was the antics of the younger royals, notably Princess Diana, and the Hollywood cult of celebrity that seduced them. Celebrity and monarchy are natural enemies. The first is about enjoying fame; the second is about performing duties. Elizabeth always realized the distinction. Her third prime minister, Harold Macmillan, wrote of her decision to ignore a terrorist threat: "She is impatient of the attitude towards her to treat her as…a film star.... She loves her duty and means to be a Queen." For a moment around Diana's funeral, it seemed that this dutiful woman had lost ground to the glamorous "people's princess." But the febrile mood passed; the monarchy recovered its nerve. And when the Queen Mother died, her highly traditional funeral showed people rallying to the more solid ideal.
Americans may not celebrate Elizabeth II's Jubilee as fervently as some other ex-colonials. They will, however, applaud. When magic survives daylight, and the reason is duty bravely performed, we are briefly in a better world.
"She means to be a Queen."
She has succeeded.
- Comment (41)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments:
Nov '11
Re: God Save the Queen
Thank you, Peter!
May '10
Re: God Save the Queen
You're gracious as always, Peter, but I'm going to have Skyler's back on this one. I'm more than happy to celebrate our friendship and special relationship with Britain, but I'm descended from a man who served the Continental Army in a company of North Carolina regulars. I'm not much on honoring the crown even knowing that Elizabeth II is a fine lady.
Dec '10
Re: God Save the Queen
In 1971 my parents - American ex-pats living in Canada - were presented to and had lunch with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and Princess Anne. It remained one of my father's proudest moments until his death, even after he moved back to the US.
Jan '12
Re: God Save the Queen
It's their country, their monarchy. It's OK to think the Queen OK. Doesn't mean we want one.
May '10
Re: God Save the Queen
The value of providing magic to children can never be overstated. I believe that magic to the popularization of any nation is also a wonderful thing, particularly when the people have the children's equivalent of scraped knees.
Suggesting there is anything wrong with a nation providing its population with a magical break in routine, regardless of what happened centuries ago, is mean spirited, and more so when that nation has been a steadfast ally through decades of difficult times.
Through a strange coincidence I happen to know that Mr. Robinson is also credentialed for "Sons of the Revolution" membership.
Long live the Queen!
Jan '12
Re: God Save the Queen
Matthew that is a long time to bear a grudge.
Re: God Save the Queen
That's my attitude. When it comes to the monarchy, I ask myself two questions:
Question one: Would Britain be a better, more coherent country without the throne? My answer: not a chance. It would instead be drab, divided far more sharply along class and ethnic lines. In British circumstances--not American, but British--the throne is, on balance, a very good thing.
Question two: Has Elizabeth II been a good monarch? Sixty years--sixty years!--of restraint, dignity, and utter devotion to a duty she never sought or, until the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII, expected to inherit. That question answers itself.
Today, pace my good friends Skylar and Matthew, I repeat: God save the Queen.
May '10
Re: God Save the Queen
I'm mostly Scots-Irish. The Sicilians have nothing on us.
Peter Robinson
Today,pacemy good friends Skylar and Matthew, I repeat: God save the Queen.
God save Elizabeth - I'll meet you that far!
May '11
Re: God Save the Queen
Re Peter Robinson # 7
Question one: Would Britain be a better, more coherent country without the throne?
How about this for a question; what would America be like today if it had remained, in some way, part of the British Empire ? I think you can make a case that Australia and Canada have been reasonably well governed for most of their history. What if George III had reached some accomodation with those ungrateful rebel colonists ?
I'm undecided on the answer (as an ex-pat Brit fortunate enough to live in Florida). Can anyone make a case for why I should go and get my red coat and musket out of the cupboard ? !!!
Dec '10
Re: God Save the Queen
Tom Roberts: Re Peter Robinson # 7
Question one: Would Britain be a better, more coherent country without the throne?
How about this for a question; what would America be like today if it had remained, in some way, part of the British Empire ? I think you can make a case that Australia and Canada have been reasonably well governed for most of their history. What if George III had reached some accomodation with those ungrateful rebel colonists ?
I'm undecided on the answer (as an ex-pat Brit fortunate enough to live in Florida). Can anyone make a case for why I should go and get my red coat and musket out of the cupboard ? !!! · 0 minutes ago
One could make the argument that the Brits learned a few lessons from the American Revolution that improved their governance of Canada & Australia.
Aug '11
Re: God Save the Queen
Circuses. People gonna' have 'em one way or another. Sorry to be rude; Spain must be rubbing off on me, and sometimes I get sick of the paradoxical stereotype holding true, that the Spaniards most likely to get along with me as more conservative American, also tend to be more sensitive when it comes to perceived insults towards monarchy. So, usually I hold my tongue on the matter. I don't sense the same restraint here, so...
Monarchy,
meh.
Aug '10
Re: God Save the Queen
It's not just the Monarch:it's the Dukes, the Earls, the Barons, the Lords, the Sirs, the Dames, (mostly accidents of birth, some bought, some favoured), all the remnants of an oppressive, anti egalitarian,fuedal system. The Queen of England seems to be a sound lady in a challenging role, for which she deserves mild admiration. But that should be all, folks.
May '11
Re: God Save the Queen
Ahem. Skyler, not Skylar.
But your argument, Peter, is quite circular. "It's good she's a monarch because she's a good monarch." Or, "She's a good monarch, therefore it's good she's a monarch."
Just imagine how nice a person she would be if she didn't have a crown. Then she would be a great . . . no, wait, she wouldn't be great at anything absent her crown. She would certainly be nice. And still unapologetically religious, etc., but she would not be on TV. She has no talents beyond being a nice person.
My grandmother was a nice person too. So is my mother. What makes this woman special? That she was born to the most ruthless power seeking family to survive?
I have no complaints with her as a person. That she is a nice person is actually a bad thing because it makes otherwise sensible people think that hereditary rule is a good thing. It's not. It's a despicable form of government. The Brits can do as they choose, it's none of my business, but our nation, founded on the principled opposition to everything she is, should never laud her.
May '11
Re: God Save the Queen
Peter Robinson
Question one: Would Britain be a better, more coherent country without the throne? My answer: not a chance. It would instead be drab, divided far more sharply along class and ethnic lines. In British circumstances--not American, but British--the throne is, on balance, a very good thing.That's my attitude. When it comes to the monarchy, I ask myself two questions: · 4 hours ago
Why would removal of the head of the British class system lead to worse division among classes? That is an assertion without any basis.
Jan '11
Re: God Save the Queen
And after all that hard work and due diligence, she'll have to hand the monarchy over to this guy:
Dec '10
Re: God Save the Queen
Yes, quite. Glad we got that cleared up.
As for the rest, perhaps you're not understanding, but in England, the "Monarch" doesn't actually rule anything at all.
She can't do a damned thing to the people without the PM and Parliment going along with it.
She's not a ruler, she's England's hereditary head PR agent.
In that role she seems to have done quite well for herself and her country.
Perhaps you could save up and use some of that outrage on things in the world that really matter, say like the way China treats most of its people, or Cuba, or any number of communist African nations, or most any nation in the middle east or any nation whose name ends with "stan".
The monarchy in England is far and away the least oppressive form of government to be protesting at this time.
Go make a stink where it'll do some good.
Feb '12
Re: God Save the Queen
From the wisdom of Terry Pratchett:
Technically, the city of Ankh-Mopork is a Tyranny, which is not always the same thing as a monarchy, and in fact even the post of Tyrant has be somewhat redefined by the incumbent, Lord Vetinari, as the only form of democracy that works. Everyone is entitled to vote, unless disqualified by reason of age or of not being Lord Vetinari.
And yet it does work. This has annoyed a number of people who fell, somehow, that it should not, and who want a monarch instead, thus replacing a man who has achieved his position by cunning, a deep understanding of the realities of the human psyche, breathtaking diplomacy, a certain prowess with a stiletto dagger, and all agree, a mind like a finely balanced circular saw, with a man who has got there by being born.*
* A third proposition, that the city be governed by a choice of respectable members of the community who would promise not to give themselves airs or betray the public trust at every turn, was instantly the subject of music-hall jokes all over the city.
Mar '11
Re: God Save the Queen
As an English ex-pat who is now a US citizen, I am always torn on occasions like this - one part of me wants to be back in the rain, celebrating, while the other part is happy to be in the sunshine in AZ.
I was born 4 years before the Queen's coronation, and I have vague memories of the ensuing street party (one of my first memories, actually). So this week's events, and the Monarchy generally, are primarily exercises in nostalgia - kinda like watching Downton Abbey. Anachronistic, to be sure - but that is the whole point, as Mr Pratchett understands.
I've noticed that Americans tend to be split between people like Peter and people like Skyler. Understandable because of the history, and the absence of an equivalent institution in the US - of course, the flag is supposed to substitute, but it's kinda inanimate.
There may well be a constitutional crisis when the Queen passes on (her son has already promised only to defend faith, and wants to turn the UK into a giant wind farm, growing only organic food), but the Steynian collapse of Western Civilization may well precede that, anyway.
Edited on June 4, 2012 at 3:39amDec '10
Re: God Save the Queen
Skyler actually kind of reminds me of my incredibly annoying Canadian friends who are always sticking their noses into American politics. My response to them is ususally "It's none of your (CoC violation) business!"
May '11
Re: God Save the Queen
CoolHand
Perhaps you could save up and use some of that outrage on things in the world that really matter
I'm not protesting her. I merely say that Americans should not be lining up to laud her.
We're free to burn our flag. I don't recommend being that radical if you don't like your queen.