Royalty in the Center of the World!

For the first time in almost 35 years the Queen Elisabeth is back in Manhattan, but only for half a day. Half a day? How much can you do in NYC in half a day? Well if they are barricading streets for you, you might be surprised

I was thinking about Elisabeth today; imagining what it must be like for royalty to visit a place like NYC. I started reading about her, and the strongest impression I received was how fortunate she and Britain are to have had one another.

I think for many that being in a Monarchy is a lot like being a child star. It’s pretty heady stuff, to be adored and cheered for and you can easily get sucked into it; and then chewed up and spit out.

Elisabeth has been queen for close to 60 years, and considering the storms that she has had to weather, I’d say she is well suited for the challenge. Don’t believe me? How many other monarchs survived modern times?

Winston Churchill said as a toddler, Elisabeth was "a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant." Her nanny wrote a book titled “The Little Princesses” and she mentioned her exceptional orderliness and attitude of responsibility. As a young girl her cousin Margaret said she was "a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved".

Queen Elisabeth is the last living head of state to have served in World War 2.
She is the most widely traveled head of state in history.
She’s even credited for boosting TV’s popularity because her coronation was televised in 1953, and many bought sets just to witness this historic event.

On April 21, 1947, Elisabeth’s 21st birthday, she spoke on a radio broadcast and pledged, "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

Most would crumble when presented with the task of maintaining a largely ornamental position while maintaining the power and authority that remains. And to do this with all the scrutiny now available through technology is impressive.

It was said of her that she hates to be treated like a film star; she loves her duty and she means to be queen. I like that. I also wonder if she has misgivings about her successor. Who’d know better than Elisabeth, the kind of King Charles would make?

Long Live the Queen!