OPINION: The British Queen at 90

Last week, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday. Born in 1926 she has reigned over the United Kingdom for the last 64 years after ascending the throne in 1952. But she does not rule over the United Kingdom only. Her realm spans a total of fifteen other countries and territories even today. She is still the Head of State besides the UK , of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica and Barbados, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Grenadines, Belize, Antigua, Barbuda as well as St. Kitts and Nevis. In these territories the flag of Great Britain flies in the same masthead as the flags of these countries. A Governor General or her representative sits in the capitals of those states and conducts the function of the Head of State on her behalf. No doubt there are people of these territories who are not comfortable having a monarch of another country still reigning them. Yet she remains in that position for many years now.  There have been plebiscites in some of these states to discard such a position. So far these have failed. The majority of the people have accepted her status. Over and above, she also is the Head of the Commonwealth of Nations which is an international conglomeration of independent states who were once under the British suzerainty but have done away with British rule. When there is a summit meeting of all such states every year, the Queen as the head of this body, is called upon to open and close these meetings where issues of common concern are discussed and together resolved. Bangladesh, which was under British suzerainty in the past is also a member of the Commonwealth and acknowledges the British Queen as the head of that body. Like Bangladesh a total of       independent countries do so too.

The British queen is superseded by one other monarch in the present world who has reigned longer than her as a suzerain. That person is the King of neighbouring Thailand where King Bhumibol  Adulyadej (Rama IX) has till today, ruled over his subjects for 69 plus years because he had ascended the throne in 1946.

Queen Elizabeth has a legendary association with Presidents, Kings, Queens and Prime Ministers around the world. She has visited the majority of the countries and territories around the world. Before she was crowned Queen she met President Harry Truman of the USA as a princess. But after her ascension to the British throne she met all successive American Presidents except one to date. That was President Lyndon Johnson as their paths did not cross. As a Queen she started with President Dwight D Eisenhower in 1957. Later in 1961, she met President Kennedy. She met the present US President Obama too. Likewise, she has throught her long reign has met seven successive popes.

The Queen met her future husband Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1934 and in 1937 for a second time. In fact they are second cousins through King Christian IX of Denmark and third cousin through Queen Victoria of Great Britain. In 1939, the Queen who was only 13 years, fell in love with Prince Philip. They started to write letters to each other. In 1947 when she was 21 she became officially engaged to him. But Philip had no financial standing. To add to his woes he was foreign born although then a British subject. The flip side was that he had served the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. Yet his two sisters had married two German noblemen and both had Nazi links. So there was initial opposition to their marriage by the Queen mother. However in the course of time she was quite satisfied with his lineage. By that time Philip also had renounced his Greek and Danish titles. He also converted from Greek orthodoxy to become an Anglican. He also adopted the style and title of his mother’s British family and became Lt. Philiph Mountbatten. When the couple got married in 1947, Philip was given the title of ‘His Royal Highness’ and made the Duke of Edinburgh. But even then after the end of the Second World War, Philip’s two sisters were not allowed to attend their brother’s wedding in Britain.

Queen Elizabeth never had a formal education. She was not sent to any school, college or University. But she was home-tutored by teachers who, among other subjects, taught her history and religion.  The Queen rarely gives press interviews. So it is not always known what her personal feelings and views are on any subject. Because she is a constitutional monarch over the last 64 years she does not express or hold any political views. She has never expressed herself in any public forum. She has never crossed swords with any political figures. She only shows through her behaviour her deep religious and civic senses. Yet even this non controversial figure has had to face public criticism. This was when her eldest son Prince Charles divorced wife but much admired worldwide, Lady Diana, died in a car accident in France. The Queen had shown her non- chalent attitude about the tragedy. But the public reaction to her behaviour made her make amends soon after. This change in acknowledging the sad demise of Lady Diana was subsequently accepted by the British public as well as by the huge fan base of Lady Diana throughout the world.

Queen Elizabeth II is a rich lady. She owns immense fortunes which includes her inherited jewels, land, real estates and other inherited works of art, well bred horses as well as castles. She maintains a retinue of servants and helpers to look after these properties. The redeeming feature is that she pays her annual taxes due to the British treasury. But she is the only person in her realm who is allowed to drive her car without a driving license. She is also immune from court prosecutions.

Queen Elizabeth II had travelled to Dhaka and stayed overnight. She was lodged in a special house in Hare road. It is known as ‘Ranir Bari’ and is today used as the Foreign Affairs Training Academy. She made a big impression on the people here and she is immensely liked by a cross section of the people. During last week’s birthday celebrations in Britain and around the world, a Bangladeshi origin lady Nadia Husayn baked her birthday cake which was served at her official celebration where she tasted it at Windsor castle. Over the years Her Majesty has been in touch with our leaders and has been a well wisher of our people. We too wish her happy 90th birthday and hope she lives for a long time more. But let it be clear that three generations  are waiting in line to be her successor in the realm.

(The writer is a former Ambassador and a regular columnist. E-mail : ashfaque 303 @gmail.com)