One Year Later - "We Will Meet Again"

One year ago, the world paused.

In an instant – a major chapter of world history shuttered with four simple words –

“God Save the King.”

For seventy years, Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II led her country and inspired the world. From an early age she taught us the power of duty and respectful interaction, when on the occasion of her 21st birthday, far from home in Cape Town, South Africa, she would declare that her life; whether it be long or short, would be devoted to the service of her people. She couldn’t have imagined then, in 1947, what the next 75 years would hold. Right up through her final days, she continued to serve as an example for all of us.

For many, Queen Elizabeth II was the constant in a rapidly changing world, because that’s exactly what she was – a steadfast rock in a world that saw the decline of British influence. Many of her dominions hauled down the Union Flag and joined a new group of nations formed as her Commonwealth Realms, an organization founded by her father and whose success she considered to be one of her proudest achievements.

With her guidance, and through her example, Britons would successfully endure some the greatest challenges to befall their country in its long history. She was steadfast throughout – from rationing to Suez, political scandals to devaluation of Pound Sterling, from strikes to the Winter of Discontent. She never publicly flinched as her family was excoriated in tabloid print, endured the commemoration of her 40th year on the throne as one of the worst of her life, suffered the loss of her sister and mother within two months of each other, and then, through no fault of her own, she would have to all but renounce one child for his actions and sack a grandson from the family business.

And yet, in spite of all of this, in her final years – she would again rise and do her duty, rallying her people much like the iconic British heroine Boudica - not against Roman legions - but against a much more frightening and invisible foe – a global pandemic.

To paraphrase the slogan of the stock brokerage EF Hutton – when Her Majesty talked, the world listened. On rare occasions of significance, in addition to her annual Christmas address, The Queen would deliver a televised address to her people. One of her last and most touching of these moments came on April 5, 2020, as the world was still coming to grips with COVID and what it would mean for the future.

The Queen began by thanking first responders and those caring for the sick and dying. Then, just as she has done throughout her reign, reassured not just Britain but the world,

“we should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return; we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

Empires may lose their influence; but such stirring words will never lose their poignancy.

In delivering that speech, the Queen, who was known for saying “I must be seen to be believed,” purposely chose to wear a bright green dress, a color so intense as to almost seem inappropriate for such a somber event. Yet, for her, it was well suited - reflecting the new shoots of Spring beginning to pierce the cold earth - living symbols enduring through a dark season – and much like her words, connected us to feelings of love, compassion, and community.

Most world leaders today represent hard power - be it military, economic, or technological. Few lead through the power of moral suasion. The Dalai Lama does so through a message of love; Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II - from the beginning to the end of her life, did so through a message of duty. It is for this that she will always be remembered, and it is by this that we, one year on from her death, still have an enduring example by which to live.