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Queen Elizabeth's Secret to 70 Years on the Throne
7 Apr
Summary
- Elizabeth II's guiding philosophy was to do a good job for her father.
- The Queen's greatest skill was speaking only when she had value to add.
- A recurring theme in her speeches was reconciliation and building bridges.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers has illuminated Queen Elizabeth II's guiding philosophy during her unprecedented 70-year reign. Vickers' insights, drawn from over 40 meetings and decades of research, suggest the Queen's primary motivation was to make her father, King George VI, proud.
Vickers highlighted the late monarch's 'greatest skill' as her judicious use of speech, preferring to remain silent until she had something of significant value to convey. This thoughtful approach characterized her public address.
Furthermore, Vickers identified a persistent theme of reconciliation and forward-looking bridge-building in the speeches of both the Queen and Prince Philip. This proactive diplomatic stance was evident early on, exemplified by a state visit invitation to Germany in 1958.
The biographer also observed that Queen Elizabeth II possessed 'no real sense of self' separate from her royal duties. When faced with challenging decisions, she would set personal feelings aside, prioritizing 'What should the Queen do?' over personal inclination.
