Queen Elizabeth II infographic. Photo: Xinhua News Agency
On September 8, local time, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. Her eldest son, Crown Prince Charles, succeeded to the British throne.
On the same day, Buckingham Palace issued a king's statement saying the Queen's death was "the saddest moment for me and all the members of my family... We deeply mourn a beloved monarch and mother". British Prime Minister Traus also said in a statement at the Prime Minister's Office that the news of the Queen's death was "shocking" and that she was "the cornerstone of modern Britain".
Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Elizabeth II, born on 21 April 1926, was the eldest daughter of the late King George VI. She ascended the throne on 6 February 1952 and was crowned on 2 June 1953, beginning nearly 70 years of reign.
As a young man, Elizabeth II experienced World War II. After her coronation, she experienced the vicissitudes of the Cold War, the independence of colonies, the first landing of mankind on the moon, the birth of the European Community and even the European Union, the end of the Cold War, the arrival of the millennium... And, of course, Brexit and COVID-19. She has witnessed the transformation of the big times again and again.
As a constitutional monarchy, the British Crown is only a symbol of national power and does not have substantive power. As queen, Elizabeth II does not participate in the political arena, she is more like a "mascot", providing spiritual support to generations of Britons.
This "job" seems simple, requiring attendance at all necessary occasions, but it is not easy in practice. As the oldest surviving royal family in the world, the British royal family needs to adhere to its own traditions and provide guidance on the level of values. For Elizabeth II, this was both a responsibility and a constraint.
The burden of responsibility was deeply felt by Elizabeth II at a young age. When World War II broke out, she was only 13 years old and had taken refuge in Scotland. When someone suggested that she take refuge in Canada, her mother made it clear that she objected, saying the famous "three can't leave": "The children can't leave without me, I can't leave without the king, and the king can't leave under any circumstances." ”
Queen Elizabeth II infographic. Photo: Xinhua News Agency
Elizabeth II was the only woman in the British royal family to participate in World War II, and as a member of the women's auxiliary service team, she not only drove military trucks, but also repaired vehicles. The persistence of her parents in World War II was seen by Elizabeth II as a source of strength. In 1947, Crown Prince Elizabeth II made her first foreign visit and took the oath to "dedicate her life to service to the Commonwealth and Empire" as her birthday gift.
A sense of responsibility alone was not enough, as the central figure of the royal family, Elizabeth II had to face the disintegration of the British Empire at the beginning of her reign. Under the wave of national self-determination after World War II, many colonies got rid of British rule, and the "empire that never sets" became history.
At the same time, the post-World War II world was an era of political giant games. In this field, Churchill was Britain's key figure at the negotiating table. However, Elizabeth II still made great efforts in her own area of expertise, relying on one foreign visit after another to maintain the image of Britain with affinity.
And in Britain, Elizabeth II's task was even heavier than the heavy crown she had complained about.
In the face of Britain's post-war economic downturn and the low mood of the people, Elizabeth II tried her best to play the role of "mascot" and encouraged the people to tide over the difficulties. She succeeded in not destroying Britain's inherent balance of power, not allowing the royal family to overstep its bounds, and successfully making the royal family accepted and loved by the British.
Compared with the often tense relationship between the royal family and the prime minister in the past, Elizabeth II has a good relationship with most of the dozen or so prime ministers she has experienced. Even the relative tension with the powerful Margaret Thatcher only stayed at the level of "not loving to appear in public at the same time".
Queen Elizabeth II (right) and her husband Prince Philip (left) arrive at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, UK, for a national thanksgiving ceremony on June 10, 2016. On 9 April 2021, Prince Philip passed away at Windsor Castle. Photo: Xinhua News Agency
Under the "Prime Minister of Flowing Water, Queen of Iron", Elizabeth II maintained a very high degree of "adaptability". It is precisely for this reason that some people think that Elizabeth II can be called a politician is precisely that she was very wise not to interfere in politics and to transcend partisan politics.
For the British, they are more concerned with the queen's elegant dress, as well as her favorite pairing of hats. They also love the Queen's youthful mentality of opening social networking accounts in her old age and "keeping up with the trend".
Elizabeth II cut down the members of the royal family to reduce the burden on the state, and published the royal family's expenses online. After experiencing Princess Diana, she also gradually learned to be more enlightened, allowing Crown Prince Charles to marry the divorced Camilla and Prince William to marry Kate, who was a commoner.
These impossible "operations" of the past royal family have made Elizabeth II more "grounded" and made the British royal family more suitable for the civilization process of modern society. Of course, it also won the hearts of more British people for the British royal family.
In modern society, the monarchy has always been a declining way of ruling. The high status of the British royal family in the eyes of the British people no longer comes from the old idea of "divine right of kings", but is based on the exemplary role played by Elizabeth II's personal morality, which is the reputation accumulated by her 70 years of reign.
Shakespeare once wrote in Henry IV that "if you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight", and Elizabeth II's life did carry such a "weight".
Written by / Ye Kefei (columnist)
Editor / Yunyun Liu
Proofreading / Chen Diyan