Six months before her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II uttered these words: “I pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve him and you, all the days of my life.” 

   Seventy years later, although frailty and age have recently made this more difficult, our Queen continues to serve God and her people to the best of her ability. She has seen governments and politicians come and go. The United Kingdom has had good times and harder ones. In all the vagaries of life, she has remained a calm and steady presence at the head of our nation.

   She has faced her own challenges personally and others related to members of her family, but throughout all this she has remained – at least in public – dignified and stately.

   In many ways, the life of the Queen is far removed from that of the majority of her subjects. She has wealth way beyond what most of us will ever know and is protected from many of the hardships of life. But wealth and power cannot shield anyone from the devastating effects of bereavement, family breakdowns, watching one’s children make mistakes and so on.

   From the beginning of her reign 70 years ago to the present day, she has always made it clear that her faith has been important and the foundation on which she has built her life. She often talks about it in her annual Christmas message to the nations, for instance, this is what she said in 2002, as she reflected on her Golden Jubilee: “I know just how much I rely on my own faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.” And more recently in 2020: “The teachings of Christ have served as my inner light, as has the sense of purpose we can find in coming together to worship.”

   It is right and proper that the Supreme Governor of the Church of England expresses her faith in her words, deeds and way of life. But our Queen has always been supportive of those of other faith and of no faith at all.  

   Many villages, towns and cities will be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee this month. As we join in with the parties, picnics, festivities and enjoyment, in person or through our television screens, let us pray for our Queen, giving thanks for her example of faith, commitment and service to our nation for the past 70 years.

 

With best wishes

Sarah