The Queen and I

I ask for the indulgence of this newspaper’s readers to allow me to deviate from my usual historical discussion and write a more personal account for today’s article. On September 8, the world learned with astonishment that her majesty Queen Elizabeth II had died. Many people were nonetheless unprepared for the tragic news even though there had been several prior reports of her death and she was undoubtedly old enough for everyone to anticipate her passing. I was particularly unprepared for that.

Since I was 13 years old, I have admired her majesty. My love affair with royalty started in 1993 when I read about the marriage of then Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan to Masako Owada. Being naturally curious and particularly intrigued by the concept of the monarchy, I dug around for anything and everything about royal families. I read through our set of encyclopedia books at home and was rewarded with a long article on the British royal family. I have since become an expert on the subject. And, as my fellow ardent monarchists Mike and Gavin would say, those who are into genealogy, as are we, are naturally plus royaliste que le roi (to be more royalist than the king).

My love for genealogy and history stems from my lifelong support for the institution of the monarchy, a passion that very few understand considering I live in a republic. I can count with just one hand the number of people who share this passion.

Queen Elizabeth became the center of my interest in the monarchy, primarily because there just are more articles and books on her. She always had that quiet dignity about her and was the embodiment of everything British. While she and her family have had some ups and downs, she remained beloved not just by her subjects but also by the rest of the world. Even republicans who got to meet her could not help but fall in love with her natural majesty.

For me, she was the one constant in my life. In my more than four decades on this earth, I have known eight Philippine presidents, three Popes, and eight American presidents. Other heads of state come and go, but there has only been one British monarch in my life.

Above everything, Queen Elizabeth was a living, breathing symbol of history. She was one of the last surviving witnesses to World War II. Her first prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill, was born in 1874 while her last and 15th, Liz Truss, was born in 1975, which means a century separated her first from her last prime minister. Suffice it to say that not only did she personally witness and live almost 100 years' worth of history, but she also heard about events from the past from people who were born in the previous century.

As we mourn her loss, let us also be thankful for the years we were given to see and learn from her. I may not have had the opportunity to meet her personally, but for many, just seeing and having her there was enough. I see the queen and the institution she represented as a symbol of continuity and tradition. Of survival and dedication. Her death has left a hole in my heart, but I am grateful for everything that I learned from her life and dedication. There was a lot to learn from her example, and many more from the legacy she leaves behind.

To echo the Paddington Bear: “thank you, ma’am, for everything!” Vaya con Dios, your majesty.