Queen and Country

Quote

“The monarchy is so extraordinarily useful. When Britain wins a battle she shouts, "God save the Queen"; when she loses, she votes down the prime minister.”  Sir Winston Churchill

News

Sixty years ago on Monday, Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne, aged just 25.  She had learned the values of “diligence, duty, dignity, and compassion” from her father’s wartime leadership, and from her own vibrant Christian faith.  In the intervening years, the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror has served her country and the Commonwealth tirelessly, not least by opening parliament 58 times, making 261 overseas visits, holding weekly audiences with her prime ministers (from Churchill to Cameron), signing 3,500 acts of parliament and answering 3.5 million letters.

The future of the monarchy is a topic of lively debate, with political, financial and ethical arguments being made both for and against.  But what about the relational impact of Queen Elizabeth’s reign?  One reason for her popularity with the public are her “walkabouts”, which she first began during a visit to New Zealand in 1970.  She habitually takes time to converse with ordinary well-wishers, not just the elites and dignitaries lined up to meet her.  However, she has never given an interview to a journalist, suggesting that she wants to relate to her subjects directly and personally, rather than risking the more unpredictable, indirect route offered by the media.

A significant role played by the Queen is to provide support to political leaders.  She has been a confidant to numerous Commonwealth leaders over the years, and particularly to the incumbent British prime minister, who has an audience with her on Tuesday evenings.  The Queen’s position as unelected head of state for life frees her from the pressures of having to defend her role.  But neither does she yield to complacency; her extensive knowledge of government affairs is gained by her meticulous reading of state papers (in Downing street she is known as “Reader Number One”).

In his new biography on the Queen, political journalist Andrew Marr talks about the “humility of the hereditary”: precisely because the Queen cannot claim to hold her position through some meritocratic scramble, she is humble.  However, others who are blessed by similar advantages of birth can end up arrogant, remote and dictatorial.  It is to the Queen’s credit that she has chosen to put service of others and of her country ahead of personal aggrandisement and reward.  Britain would be a lot better off if leaders in industry and politics were more consistent in doing likewise.

Read on…

John Milton published a tract in 1660, warning of the dangers of re-establishing the monarchy in Britain following the Commonwealth period; he argued that a profligate king would be an economic burden, and restrict both freedom and virtue in the land.  The constitutional monarchy we have ended up with in Britain has largely avoided these dangers due, in part, to the warnings of Milton and others.  Read his “Free Commonwealth” pamphlet here.

Walk the talk

Organisational leadership comes by merit and is exercised through the structures of the organisation; relational leadership is ascribed to us by others, based on our character and patterns of behaviour.  What one lesson might you draw from the Queen’s example?

The last word

From the Bible, Mark 10, verse 42-45: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ ”