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The Queen’s self-abnegation is about self-interest, not just duty The Queen’s self-abnegation is about self-interest, not just duty
(about 3 hours later)
Today, at around 5.30pm, Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest reigning monarch Britain has ever known. Top Gear presenters can only ever dream of such enduring tenure. But what does this historical milestone mean for the people over whom she reigns?Today, at around 5.30pm, Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest reigning monarch Britain has ever known. Top Gear presenters can only ever dream of such enduring tenure. But what does this historical milestone mean for the people over whom she reigns?
There has most certainly never been a time in which more people in existence have known no other monarch. Only those in their late 60s can remember when the Queen wasn’t the Queen. Sheer longevity has made her an undisturbed fact in times of great upheaval. There has most certainly never been a time in which more people in existence have known no other monarch. Only those in their late 60s or older can remember when the Queen wasn’t the Queen. Sheer longevity has made her an undisturbed fact in times of great upheaval.
Related: Business as usual as Queen becomes longest reigning British monarchRelated: Business as usual as Queen becomes longest reigning British monarch
Likewise, most people have no idea what it’s like to witness a person being plucked from their siblings and told that it’s their turn to embody all aspects of their nation. Or have a go at it, anyway. When Elizabeth was crowned, a meritocratic society wasn’t even the lip-served aspiration that it is now. Astoundingly, people would live their entire lives without ever compiling a CV, or being told what a CV was.Likewise, most people have no idea what it’s like to witness a person being plucked from their siblings and told that it’s their turn to embody all aspects of their nation. Or have a go at it, anyway. When Elizabeth was crowned, a meritocratic society wasn’t even the lip-served aspiration that it is now. Astoundingly, people would live their entire lives without ever compiling a CV, or being told what a CV was.
Elizabeth needed no qualifications for her new job. She didn’t even need to want it. But even the most flinty-stoned of Republicans are forced to admit that she has made a good fist of it. Elizabeth appears to have applied the same logic to her reign as I did to my French O-grade, which was deciding that the less I said, the less likely I was to make an error. It’s an excellent strategy. Not many people could manage 63 years, seven months and two days of neutral restraint, though. The duration of a French exam was tough enough. Elizabeth needed no qualifications for her new job. She didn’t even need to want it. But even the most flinty-stoned of republicans are forced to admit that she has made a good fist of it. Elizabeth appears to have applied the same logic to her reign as I did to my French O-grade, which was deciding that the less I said, the less likely I was to make an error. It’s an excellent strategy. Not many people could manage 63 years, seven months and two days of neutral restraint, though. The duration of a French exam was tough enough.
Yet Elizabeth has managed an astounding length of uncontroversial service. The closest she came to scandal was in her refusal to rend her garments at the death of Princess Diana. Even in that, she has in the end been vindicated.Yet Elizabeth has managed an astounding length of uncontroversial service. The closest she came to scandal was in her refusal to rend her garments at the death of Princess Diana. Even in that, she has in the end been vindicated.
Elizabeth’s guiding philosophy has always been: “It’s not about me.” It’s easy to see now that Diana, who believed for a time (understandably) that it was all about her, came closer to delivering the Queen’s anathema – royalty as a part of celebrity culture – than anyone is likely to try for in many decades to come.Elizabeth’s guiding philosophy has always been: “It’s not about me.” It’s easy to see now that Diana, who believed for a time (understandably) that it was all about her, came closer to delivering the Queen’s anathema – royalty as a part of celebrity culture – than anyone is likely to try for in many decades to come.
In putting duty and service first, the Queen has also put survival first. She carries on so that she and her family and their institution can carry on. Her self-abnegation is really self-interest. The attraction of a scrap of unwanted attention in among all that wanted attention simply creates unpredictability, when predictability is the essence of the entire business.In putting duty and service first, the Queen has also put survival first. She carries on so that she and her family and their institution can carry on. Her self-abnegation is really self-interest. The attraction of a scrap of unwanted attention in among all that wanted attention simply creates unpredictability, when predictability is the essence of the entire business.
The Queen’s long reign has delivered more predictability than any monarch before her. Sure, all she had to do was stay alive. But we all know that plenty of monarchs have failed in this task, quite catastrophically. If a Queen can have a crowning achievement, then hers will come at about 5.30 this evening. If there is a God, he has certainly saved the Queen.The Queen’s long reign has delivered more predictability than any monarch before her. Sure, all she had to do was stay alive. But we all know that plenty of monarchs have failed in this task, quite catastrophically. If a Queen can have a crowning achievement, then hers will come at about 5.30 this evening. If there is a God, he has certainly saved the Queen.