She would have been 100 today. I always thought she would live to at least 107. My thinking was her mother got to 102, and her generation would live longer? And surely, she would be determined to outlive her son, who she must have feared would damage her legacy? I was wrong on both counts, she ‘only’ got to 96. And, so far, her son has done a much better job than I feared, or should I say he learnt from his mother, finally, it was better for a monarch to keep their opinions to themselves.
Naturally, I would be against the undemocratic institution of the Monarchy, but having observed its operation throughout my life, it offers some advantages over other options. Any method of making the post of Head of State, democratic, requires elections. And a Head of State who has been elected has power, and also has the faults of democracy. Namely, a difficulty for the politician in speaking openly their opinion for fear of losing votes from some sector of society or other. This seems to be the basis for the low opinion people have for politicians.
In addition, an elected Head of State will represent a particular political view point and those who oppose that viewpoint will find difficulty in being represented by that Head of State. By contrast, an unelected person (with a tradition of service) who keeps their political opinions quiet, can be accepted as the representation of the State without too much controversy. Imagine Margaret Thatcher as Head of State? Or Jeremy Corbyn? However, good they might be at the job they would be divisive from the start. Charles wasn’t particularly popular but with the legacy of his mother supporting him, he is, so far, showing the strength of a non-elected Head of State system,
At Balmoral today he made a speech from the heart and said of his mum:
Her near-century was one of remarkable change and yet, through each passing decade, through every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served.
Millions will remember her for moments of national significance; many others for a fleeting personal encounter, a smile, a kind word that lifted spirits…. or for that marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life.
Much about the times we now live in I suspect may have troubled her deeply, but I take heart from her belief that goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon. For as a young Princess Elizabeth put it in her first ever public broadcast, aged just 14, we can each play our part ‘to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place’. It is a belief which I share, with all my heart.
The Queen died of ‘old-age’ though several biographies suggest it was of bone-marrow cancer. And at 70 years old she was the longest reigning monarch in British History.
See my post on Queen Elizabeth I’s Coronation.
First Published April 21st 2026
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