The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
All coming together
There is such a wonderful atmosphere around the UK at the moment as we approach the Platinum Jubilee of our Queen’s reign on the throne, 70 glorious years. Many towns and cities have decorated their streets with the Union Jack bunting and purple Jubilee flags. This will be a time to celebrate and show how the British party in style.
Many of you have started your celebrations by visiting the Chelsea Flower Show last week. Many of the exhibits were made around the Jubilee. I have seen many beautifully designed master pieces all inspired by the Queen, and such wonders have been created! #ChelseaInBloom #VeeversCarter
Many boutiques and high street designer stores have decorated their frontages with incredible displays of flowers to celebrate. All were made to focus around the Platinum Jubilee and mark this very special occasion, such talent! Hours of work, with hours of pleasure.
What the Queen means to me
For me, the Queen is a role model of dedication, tradition and hard work. She pledged herself to duty at the age of just twenty-five, and has stood by her promise to serve the Nation and Commonwealth for seventy years. The Queen was raised to believe and with this lesson in life: “Duty first, self second” and she has stuck by her duty.
Whether or not she is the Queen of our or your nation, I find it difficult to picture a life without a Queen or monarch in it. I was raised to respect people and give praise and gratitude to them when necessary. I believe the Queen has earned that respect and this moment of praise and gratitude, for her dedication to public life and her peoples across the Commonwealth.
In Britain, we have an attitude of just getting on with it. This all stems from the war years when we all realised that despite what was going on across the water and against our shores, you had to keep going and do your best to get through life. The British did this particularly well, by all classes mixing in and getting the job done. Our Queen also was a big contributor during the Second World War. In 1943, the Queen, (Princess Elizabeth then) was photographed tending her allotments at Windsor Castle as part of the government’s “Dig for Victory” campaign, in which people were urged to use gardens and every spare piece of land to grow vegetables to help combat food shortages.
When Princess Elizabeth turned 18 in 1944, she insisted upon joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army. Unmarried women under 30 had to join the armed forces or work on the land or in industry. King George made sure that his daughter was not given a special rank in the Army. She started as a second subaltern in the ATS and was later promoted to Junior Commander, the equivalent of Captain.
Princess Elizabeth began her training as a mechanic in March 1945. She undertook a driving and vehicle maintenance course at Aldershot, qualifying on April 14. Newspapers at the time dubbed her “Princess Auto Mechanic.”
The Royal Family, and the Queen in particular, has been a real proponent of this resilient attitude.I think this is what the public admires most about the Queen. She has stood the test of time and all its tribulations to reach this historic milestone with grace. For me, it is a good example of a life well lived, and I hope I can live my life in a similarly, working hard, being good to those around me, and having respect and a real interest in those I meet.
Thank you,
Nathan x
