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| Dr Oliver Hartwich | Executive Director | oliver.hartwich@nzinitiative.org.nz | |||||||
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Her reign was extraordinary. It linked different eras. In effect, it became a new era in itself, the new Elizabethan Age. A British monarch has only three constitutional rights according to Walter Bagehot’s classic definition: The right to be consulted. The right to encourage. And the right to warn. Elizabeth II. added a fourth right to the list: the right to lead by example. She would not have seen it as a right but as her duty. Her lifelong commitment to public service began in World War II and continued when Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1953. She promised to serve for as long as she lived. She fulfilled that promise. Though visibly frail, she swore in her 15th British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, only this week. Elizabeth II. never put herself above the institution she served. As the head of state, she was the state’s first servant. Her understanding of the monarch’s role also prevented her from overstepping it. Even though widely considered one of the most knowledgeable political observers, she remained apolitical in her public service. By delivering on promises, fulfilling constitutional duties and serving the public, Elizabeth II. led by example. For any public servant, for any Governor, Minister and Prime Minister, the head of state provided the role model. The tributes to the Queen show a world united in mourning. The Queen’s service is acknowledged and praised from progressives to conservatives, from committed royalists to ardent republicans. This is a testament to yet another of Elizabeth II.’s remarkable qualities: her ability to unite. At a time of fracturing societies, of countries dividing themselves into identities, a unifying figure like Elizabeth II. was a much-needed focal point. As we are saddened by Elizabeth’s passing, she leaves us many models: a model of duty, of service, of promises kept, of integrity, of unity. For all that, we remember Elizabeth II. with gratitude. We offer our condolences to the Royal Family – and her wider family, to which we all belong. |
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| Vignettes from a reign spanning eight decades | |||||||
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1950s: Queen Elizabeth’s first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill. She was the longest-serving monarch in UK history. He was the country’s longest-serving Member of Parliament. 1960s: The Beatles mentioned the Queen in four of their songs. 1970s: To mark her Silver Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth lit a bonfire near Windsor Castle. It was the first in eight chains of more than 100 bonfires spanning the British Isles to celebrate the occasion. 1980s: Queen Elizabeth worked behind the scenes against the South African system of apartheid. Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, credits her as a staunch opponent of racialist ideology. 1990s: Her Majesty and Prince Philip celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Queen Elizabeth gave a moving speech paying tribute to him as her “strength and stay”. 2000s: In 2002, Queen Elizabeth made the last of her ten visits to New Zealand as part of her Golden Jubilee tour. 2010s: Despite her steadfast upholding of tradition, the Queen did occasionally embrace new things. In 2010 she joined Facebook. 2020s: Now, the longest reign in the history of the United Kingdom has come to an end. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II showed us the meaning of duty and service. |
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