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 good-looking 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.
– Ken Cuthbertson