For seventy years Her Majesty the Queen reigned over our country and the Commonwealth, with a steadfast duty to public service that has won over the hearts of many.
Her Majesty was the longest-serving monarch in British history, surpassing the record of her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, and she was a symbol of continuity over a period when both our country and our world went through so many changes. The Queen loved Britain and Britain loved her, as seen by the outpouring of support we witnessed at her Platinum Jubilee just a few months ago, and the sadness we have seen since her death was announced.
I have been reflecting on the visit Her Majesty made to Halesowen with Prince Philip on St George’s Day in 1957, where after arriving at Hagley Station the couple were driven to Walter Somers Ltd on Prospect Road off Mucklow Hill. Household and shops along the route were decorated brightly, and the Royal couple were welcomed at the forge by the then-Mayor of Halesowen and other dignitaries. Local school children and representatives from the Scouts, Guides and the British Legion also lined the route to the forge, and Halesowen’s church bells were rung to mark the occasion. It must have been a very proud moment for the town on that day.
During the visit the Queen and Prince Philip were escorted along the Die Block Section, the main machine shops and the main forge, as well as opening a new press. After the visit, the Queen remarked that “she could hardly believe that a forge could look so clean” - no doubt the workers at Walter Somers had given it a good tidy up ahead of the Royal arrival!
The concept of a constitutional monarchy means that the Crown is removed from party politics and provides a point of unity and focus for the nation, in good times and bad. Since Her Majesty’s passing the regular cut and thrust of our political life has been suspended, and politicians from all parties and viewpoints have come together to praise her service and dedication. The sovereign does still play a part in our political system, and one of the last duties the Queen carried out was to accept the resignation of the outgoing Prime Minister and appoint his replacement, with Liz Truss becoming the 15th of her reign. The fact that her first was Sir Winston Churchill, who was born in 1874 and was our leader in the Second World War, symbolises the length of time the Queen spent on the throne.
Her Majesty came to parliament many times for the State Opening at the beginning of each new session, and only missed three during her reign. Sadly she was unable to attend the last one, due to ill health, in May 2022. At the time I held the position of ‘Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household’, as part of the role I had at the time as a senior Government Whip, and a requirement of the role was that I had to be ‘taken hostage’ during the State Opening, a centuries-old tradition that is carried out to ensure the monarch is returned to the Palace safely.
Other duties in the role included writing to the Queen each day that Parliament was siting to keep her updated on proceedings, as well as accompanying members of the Royal Household at garden parties in the spring and summer of 2022. I also had the honour of attending the Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty at St Paul’s Cathedral, as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
As well as being a dedicated public servant, the Queen was a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. The images of her sat alone at Prince Philip’s funeral last year, due to the Covid rules in time at the place, prompted much sadness as she reflected on the husband who had been her “strength and stay” during her years on the throne.
Her eldest son, Charles, is now our new King, and we all wish him well on the new responsibilities he takes on whilst still grieving the loss of his mother. Despite a lifetime of preparation I’m sure the role will still seem daunting at times, but I have been heartened by the way in which he has been well-received by the public as he has travelled the UK. I look forward to his Coronation, the first time many of us will have been able to witness such an occasion.
My thoughts also remain with other members of the Royal Family, in particular with our new Queen Consort and with Prince William, who now becomes Prince of Wales and Heir Apparent. I wish them well too as they also take up new responsibilities.
As we mark the end of an Elizabethan Age, and herald the beginning of a new Carolean era, we can be thankful that the Crown and our nation endures, a time of sadness but also a time to look to the future. I’m sure that everyone across the constituency, across the country, and across the Commonwealth will join me in saying:
“God Save The King”
