Elizabeth II has been Queen for 70 years – that’s a big celebration this year. Times are turbulent, not just for Boris Johnson but for the Windsors as well.
She has been queen for 70 years – in Great Britain, the jubilee of Elizabeth II will be celebrated this year. These are turbulent times, politically and also for the Royals.
It is inconceivable that the almost 96-year-old Queen will ever stop during her lifetime. The British Ambassador Jill Gallard (53) also made this clear in an interview with the German Press Agency in Berlin. “The Queen has always said that she will do public service for the rest of her life.”
King George VI died on February 6, 1952. His daughter Elizabeth, then on a trip to Kenya, automatically became queen, the coronation was a year later. The anniversary (“Platinum Jubilee”) will be officially celebrated in June.
Conversations with Winston Churchill
“I hear that she is doing very well,” says Gallard, who has been an ambassador in Berlin since November 2020. As usual, the Queen’s birthday (April 21) is to be celebrated in Germany. That wasn’t possible for two years because of the corona pandemic. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we can have a garden party in Berlin in June and also celebrate in other places.”
Gallard had two meetings with the Queen herself, once as a student and chorister in Edinburgh and one longer interview before becoming ambassador to Portugal in 2011. Gallard emphasizes that the Queen has met 14 prime ministers. ‘She spoke to Winston Churchill every week. When you think about it, it’s a bit unbelievable.” At that time, they talked about global politics, European politics and Portuguese politics. “This wisdom, this experience from the 60 years that she was queen at the time: that was a highlight of my career for me.”
No comment
Is the Queen a politically minded person? “As head of state, she doesn’t comment on it, and she shouldn’t. She’s very, very good at it.” It is very important for the monarchy that the Queen is above politics. Gallard said the message was proud that the Queen spoke to outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel at the G7 summit in Cornwall and a month later in London. “It doesn’t happen that often that the Queen meets a prime minister or a chancellor unless it’s a state visit. That was a symbol of the good relations between Germany and Great Britain.”
According to the ambassador, the fact that the countries are connected is also reflected in the fact that the Queen came for five state visits. “During the state visits to Germany, there were always topics: in 1965, 20 years after the end of the war, it was about reconciliation. The third state visit was the first after reunification and it was the first time in East Germany.”
Gallard does not believe that a trial in the abuse proceedings against Prince Andrew could overshadow the throne anniversary, as she says. “Prince Andrew has returned his military honours, he is not attending any public duties, visits or meetings. This will have no impact. All Brits and all embassies want to celebrate 70 years in office. I think that will be the focus.”
Two pairs of shoes
Given the bad press for Downing Street and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, can the Queen also help to improve the country’s image a little? Is she a sympathizer?
The diplomat says: “With the majority of prime ministers, there are always times when the press is critical.” But that’s life in politics. “Our focus is the government and the diplomatic service to look to the future, the recovery from the Covid pandemic and to focus on climate protection.” If you translate Gallard’s words from the diplomatic, you could understand it like this: The Queen and British politics are of course two different things.
Gallard knows that many Germans watch British television, the Windsor saga “The Crown” or the costume series “Downton Abbey”. How much does that have to do with reality? “Good question. First of all, the UK film industry and television are very important to our trade and also to our reputation. As for “The Crown”: This is historical fiction. This means there is a side of truth and a side of fiction. We say “take it with a pinch of salt” in English – don’t take it quite literally.» But she knows a lot of Germans and Brits, especially young people, who said they learned a lot about the history of the British monarchy, about the 1950s and 1960s.
Source: Stern
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