Tags
annus horribilis, memento mori, Operation London Bridge, Operation Unicorn, Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen's Christmas Message, vita continuat
The world over knows that EIIR * (1926 – 2022) is no more. Following the official announcement of her death reportedly due to “old age” on 8 September 2022, Thursday, at 1830 hours, we witnessed both “Operation London Bridge” and “Operation Unicorn” (Scotland) being set in motion, like clockwork. The outpouring of grief, while expected, was surprising due to its scale and magnitude. It reflected the extent of the popularity of the Queen in Great Britain, the Commonwealth, and the rest of the globe. The funeral, arguably unmatched in pageantry, was held eleven days later, on 19 September 2022, Monday – a grand send-off befitting a monarch who had reigned with dignity for an incredible 70 years. Many mourned as though they had lost their own mother or grandmother, even if they had never met her in person before. There was hardly a dry eye even amongst Republicans who consider the institution of the monarchy archaic and want it abolished.
Her Popularity
Why did Queen Elizabeth II have such a positive impact on so many lives – young and old – around the world? Let us step back a little. Just picture the young Princess Elizabeth who became heir presumptive when her father, the Duke of York, was unexpectedly declared King George VI in 1936, at the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. Next, visualise the determined princess as a skilled driver and mechanic during WWII (1939 – 1945), and as a radiant young bride in 1947 and a mother for the very first time in 1948. Next, see in your mind’s eye the courageous young lady who at only 25 years of age became Queen or EIIR* when her father died unexpectedly in 1952. Then see her as the much respected reigning monarch through the decades. Finally, behold the 96-year-old Queen and global leader who had survived two World Wars, fifteen British prime ministers (only two days in the case of current PM Liz Truss), and not a small number of personal setbacks, including by her own admission, her “annus horribilis” (Latin for “horrible year”) in 1992**.
This then was a truly remarkable woman – a woman of substance. Who can forget how she mourned her beloved husband’s death by sitting all alone at Prince Philip’s funeral service, in keeping with COVID-19 restrictions at the time, while others were secretly throwing parties at No.10 Downing Street? It is not surprising then that many admired her humble, consistent, exemplary and steady leadership, as well as her deep faith in God.
She was known to share unreservedly about her faith in the annual Christmas Message broadcast, and in the year 2000, she said: “…For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life…”
She walked the talk.
Memento mori
It was around the same time that an old schoolmate of mine mentioned the term “memento mori”. It is Latin for “remember that you (have to) die”. It was indeed humbling, and an appropriate and timely reminder of the inevitability of death for all of us. Afterall, EIIR had been in the pink of health for so long that nobody expected her to go quite so suddenly. I thought she would live to at least a hundred, just like my own grandma. Hence, memento mori.
Since we each have a limited time on earth, then it is only right to pause, and consider what we are doing with our lives right now:
- Are we happy and content? If not, why not?
- How are we spending our limited time on earth?
- What are our priorities? Who are our priorities? Why?
- Do we still sweat the small stuff? Why?
- How are we living more intentionally and purposefully?
- If today were our last day on earth, what would some of our regrets be?
- In light of these likely regrets, what can we do about them before it is too late?
- What will we stop, start, restart, and continue doing, right now?
What kind of leader are we?
Someone else was lamenting about the need for better leaders everywhere, not just in government around the world, but also in corporations, companies, banks, hotels, hospitals, schools, non-profits and even places of worship.
Here are some questions to ask ourselves:
- Why are we leaders?
- How did we get to be leaders?
- What do we hope to achieve as leaders?
- What are our motives as leaders?
- Have we examined our motives with brutal honesty?
- How has our leadership impacted those around us?
- Should we be leaders at all?
- What are we currently doing to equip and develop others to be effective leaders?
Remember this: after round-the-clock media coverage for a full 10 days, including the grand state funeral on 19 September 2022, it was all very different the next day on 20 September 2022. It was almost as though the Queen’s death never happened. The news cycle was focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine; the Italian general election and far-right gains in Europe; “annexation referendums” in Russian-occupied Ukraine; earthquakes in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea; floods in places that included Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Australia, the Philippines and USA; as well as hurricanes and typhoons in different parts of the world, including Typhoon Nanmadol, Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian. Right now, as of 30 September 2022, among other things, the British Pound has plunged (and “Kwa-tanked”) so much as to cause major confusion, alarm and panic.
The world has certainly moved on, even for the Queen, it seems. Vita continuat…Latin for “life goes on”?
Yet this realisation should not discourage us. If we check our hearts and our motives are right, then nothing should change our commitment to doing our level best in whatever we do, in whatever capacity we are in, because in our respective spheres of influence, what we do matters. We may not be touching thousands of lives, let alone millions, but we are touching and impacting lives positively, one at a time, one day at a time.
Somehow I think EIIR would approve of that.
More importantly, when it is time for each of us to meet our Maker, the best reward would be to hear Him say: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
*“Regina”is Latin for “Queen”. “EIIR” stood for “Elizabeth II Regina”, the royal cypher or monogram of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. “II” indicates she was the second Queen Elizabeth. (Fun fact: In Scotland, the late Queen Elizabeth was not recognised as the second Queen Elizabeth or EIIR, because Queen Elizabeth I never ruled over Scotland when she reigned over England and Ireland – Scotland’s Queen was Mary, Queen of Scots.)
**1992 was indeed a terrible year, which among other things, though not in chronological order, included a major fire breaking out in Windsor Castle; the separation of Prince Andrew from his wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; the divorce of Princess Anne from her husband Captain Mark Phillips; demonstrators throwing eggs at the Queen during a state visit in Dresden, Germany; PM John Major’s announcement of a reform of royal finances requiring the Queen to pay income taxes; and the formal separation of Prince Charles from Princess Diana. The Queen would have been aged 66 years at the time.