60 Years In The One Job!!

Tuesday 5th June, 2012


I am not a monarchist.  Over the years there has been much discussion as to whether Australia should become a Republic.  Many years ago we had a referendum where it was put to the voters, should this country stay under the Monarchy or become a Republic.  The majority voted for the Monarchy.

Now just because I don't support Queen Elizabeth II as being the head of our country, I do admire her and the job that she has done over the last 60 years.  The United Kingdom has just celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne).  As a young 26 year old she was thrust into the job of Queen after the untimely death of her father, the King.  During those years she has endeared herself to millions of people worldwide, even during the dark days and as she herself stated, her "annus horribilis" in 1992.

This was the year that two of her sons separated from their wives, Andrew from Sarah and Charles from Diana and Princess Anne divorced her husband Capt. Mark Phillips.  There was also a fire in Windsor Castle and several priceless artifacts were lost.  The separation of Charles and Diana created the most public attention.  Diana was loved by everybody all over the world.  She never seemed to "fit" in with the Royal family. 

The past three days has seen hundreds of thousands of people cram into London just to get a glimpse of the Queen and celebrate with her.  There has been a boat regatta on the River Thames in which the Queen took part, a Jubilee concert featuring some of the world's top performers, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Tom Jones, Sir Cliff Richard, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, Shirley Bassey, Annie Lennox and the list goes on.

Last night we watched a delayed telecast of the concert on TV and loved it.  After that finished around 11.30pm, Tony went off to bed and I stayed up and watched the fly over by several aircraft while the Royal family were on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.  The Mall was once again filled with several hundred thousand people.

No-one in the whole wide world do pomp and ceremony better than the British.  Congratulations to the Queen for such outstanding service to her subjects.  I would like to see her outrule Queen Victoria, (who is the longest reigning monarch).  Queen Elizabeth II has got just over 3 years to go.  When will she abdicate?  Only she knows the answer to that.  When she does, the question will be as to who will become King....Charles or William? 

If it was done by a vote, William would get mine.