Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Farewell, Regina
My maternal grandmother claimed we came strictly from British stock. My Father’s family claimed a mostly Irish heritage. I am most attached to the Irish in me. Yesterday, though, my heart hurt as though I was a Brit living in London. I heard the announcement from Buckingham Palace that doctors were very concerned about the health of Queen Elizabeth and that her family was gathering at Balmoral in Scotland to be by her side.
Yesterday was Unity’s World Day of Prayer so I was at church for the afternoon along with another Prayer Chaplain. We took turns praying over all the prayer requests that congregants had placed in the prayer box. On each hour, we took turns conducting a brief prayer service. When I finished at 3:10 I noticed that my companion had tears in her eyes. She motioned me over and said, “Queen Elizabeth died.” I couldn’t believe my ears.
For the next hour I sat quietly in the sanctuary in case a congregant came in and wanted to pray. No one came, so I had almost an hour to wrap my head around the death of the longest serving monarch in Britain’s history. It felt personal. After all, she has been the Queen since I was two years old. I’ve known no other life than one spent on the same planet as this plucky, stoic woman. I know she had her faults. I know she didn’t handle Princess Diana’s death well, for which a lot of people still hold her accountable. But she also served Great Britain with care and courage for seven + decades.
She oversaw the amazing progress of the 20th Century and nearly a quarter of the 21st century. She went through 13 or 14 Prime Ministers and an equal number of United States Presidents. One of my favorite things that she did? When 45 insisted on being welcomed by Her Majesty the Queen, she swallowed hard and received him and his wife. At some point in the ceremony, some news person noticed that she was prominently wearing a good sized brooch given to her by President Barack Obama. Subtle British humor.
Of course I have watched every episode of Netflix’s “The Crown”. I know that the series is most likely a blend of fact and fiction. And I also believe that Queen Elizabeth II weathered her share of heartache and disappointment with a royal demeanor that did not always reflect her true feelings. During her reign, Great Britain’s rule over “the Commonwealth” shrank considerably from its possession of 25% of the world’s landmass to today’s membership of 15 countries, including Great Britain. So, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries were still ruled by her in her lifetime.
“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.” This phrase from 1947, before she even thought of being Queen, marks her devotion to service. I don’t agree with the concept of imperialism, but it is what she inherited and she managed it gracefully.
Just two days before her death, she welcomed a new British Prime Minister. A picture shows her wearing an every day outfit and standing as tall as she could stand. She looked frail but steadfast as she completed this ritual for the 15th time. Who knew that just about 48 hours later she would depart this planet? I think she went out as she came in – humbly and quietly. Long Lived the Queen.