Farewell to a Classy Queen

 

A few years ago I found this plate commemorating the belated queen’s 1953 coronation in a pawn shop somewhere. Around her portrait are Latin words meaning ‘Queen Elizabeth II by the grace of God’. Though it was produced at Royal Staffordshire Ceramics in Berslum, England, shields with the flags of the provinces of Canada are depicted around it.  Canada is just one of 54 countries within the British Commonwealth, which enfolds over a quarter of the nations around the world and almost one-third of the world population. Elizabeth will be mourned the world over, if not by everyone.  I personally found it a comfort to listen to her Christmas addresses, as she seemed one of the few leaders to exhibit thoughtfulness, respectfulness, and diplomacy in an age predominated by brash, narcissistic politicians. We lost a dedicated, classy world leader yesterday. So grateful that she lived to the age of ninety-six, swearing in the UK’s new prime minister only days ago. May we all function so vitally until the ends of our lives.