The Unofficial Royal Family Pages
Sunday 16 April 2006 Be it Long or Short...
This month's column appears on Easter Day, presumably as many of the
British royal family are gathered at Windsor for a family weekend. It
is also being posted five days prior to H.M. the Queen's eightieth
birthday. It has been a puzzlement what to focus on this month. Within
the last few days the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall celebrated
their first wedding anniversary up in Scotland, Prince Harry "passed
out" at Sandhurst as a 2nd Lieutenant with his proud Granny reviewing
the troops, and the Queen participated in the Royal Maundy service at
Guildford Cathedral. There was also a sighting of the rarely seen Lady
Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, now age three, taking in the sights with her
mum at Windsor Castle. Prince Harry, of course, managed a few tabloid
headlines with his ill-advised venture to the lap-dancing club, and his
reunion with his undeniably looksome girlfriend. So, all in all, it
sounds like business is proceeding as per usual in the House and Family
of Windsor Inc., as the Queen prepares to cross the threshold into her
ninth decade.
What comes to mind is that H.M.'s 80th birthday also marks the 59th
anniversary of her famous 21st birthday broadcast from South Africa in
which she dedicated her life "whether it be long or short" to the
service of Britain and the Commonwealth. It seems that her destiny is
to be very much on the "long" end of the spectrum, with a strong
likelihood that she will achieve the longest reign in British history.
If my reckoning is accurate, she will pass Queen Victoria's record in
September of 2015, aged approximately 89 years and five months. And I
think it a good bet that she will make it, hopefully with her late
mother's vigor and vitality. In my mind that argues for making her
eventual 90th birthday celebrations into one of the most extraordinary
jubilees ever.
This last week I re-watched the recent (2005) three-part documentary on
Windsor Castle, which is now out on DVD. It did strike me that the
Queen is now a little old lady, albeit a very vigorous one. In the
pictures of her inspecting St. George's Hall before a state banquet, or
stepping out to greet the castle staff who'd come round Christmas
caroling on a chilly December night, there were more resemblances to the
Queen Mother than I'd noticed before. They also show up in the
wonderful black and white photo portrait done by fellow octogenarian
Jane Bown that is now on display at Windsor Castle.
What also struck me in the documentary series was the interview with
Prince Philip, soon to turn 85, in which he talked about how he and the
Queen had done more to make Windsor their home than anyone since Queen
Victoria. They truly live in the castle. They re-introduced the lapsed
custom of state visits occurring at Windsor. They redecorated,
restored, and rebuilt. They redesigned and redeveloped the gardens,
deerpark, and the working estate. The Duke of Edinburgh's pleasure and
pride in the place was evident, and it was also evident that it is a
pride and pleasure that he shares with his wife. After all, as the Duke
noted, it is an accomplishment simply to have kept it all going, and to
be ready to turn it over in good shape to the next generation. That
perspective applies, I suspect, not just to their feelings about Windsor
Castle, but to all their combined work.
So, perhaps the iconic moment of this birthday month occurred this last
Wednesday. According to news reports, as the Queen inspected the line
at Sandhurst she briefly paused before a certain cadet and quietly said,
"Ah, here's a face that I know." Her grandson blushed, and then
grinned, as she continued on her way.
A most happy Easter to all.
Yours Aye, - Ken Cuthbertson
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This page was last updated on: Sunday, 16-Apr-2006 10:58:09 CEST