In Tribute to a Gracious Lady

It's around this time of year when the United Kingdom celebrates the Queen's Birthday, usually the second Saturday in June, when the weather is suitable enough for outdoor festivities, regardless of when the monarch's birthday is.

Certainly Her Majesty Elizabeth II had a major milestone on her birthday back in April when she turned 90--and I'm fairly certain no other British monarch has been reigning on the throne up to that age.  This milestone comes a few months after she surpassed Queen Victoria's approximately 63 1/2-year reign in September 2015 to become the longest reigning British monarch.

Having been around for so long, much longer than other monarchs in Europe especially, she has developed what I feel to be quite a reputation, both with her subjects in Britain, and throughout the world.  Even here in the United States, people seem to be spellbound by her.

When going through my list of historical events in my personal almanac, I noticed that this past May 16 marked the 25-year anniversary of her 1991 address to a joint session of Congress, the first by a reigning British monarch--another notable event in the year I was born.

Looking over a transcript of the address, I couldn't help but notice her eloquent sense of graciousness as she spoke about the strength and stability both the United Kingdom and the United States have achieved by relying on the democratic form of government, and the good relationship both nations have, allowing them to face the challenges present in the world.

I think that's the one big thing that stands out about Her Majesty, how gracious of a demeanor she displays--even over her amazing sense of fashion.  I heard that when she visited the United States in 1976, the bicentennial year of US independence, she said the American Revolution was "a very valuable lesson", in teaching the British "to respect the rights of others to govern themselves in their own ways".  Quite a change from her predecessor George III, who wanted to do nothing more than give every American a bloody nose.  Indeed, it shows how the United Kingdom has come to embrace a commitment to ensuring the realization of the rights of its citizens.

So as the gracious Queen Elizabeth II celebrates with her people, I offer tribute to this amazing woman:  Long may she reign, even in the hearts of her people.