In Memoriam Assembly for HM Queen Elizabeth II

Given by Martin Boden, Headmaster of King Edward's School, Bath

On her 21st birthday in 1947, 5 years before she would become monarch, the then Princess Elizabeth on a visit to South Africa famously said in a televised speech: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” 

Three quarters of a century later, having lived a life both mercifully long and gloriously full of the devoted service and loyalty that she promised, Her Majesty the Queen has died.

Until yesterday, every one of us in this hall had known only one monarch of our country, one Head of State, one constant figurehead in a realm of national and global change, our Queen for 70 years, Elizabeth II. Given that all encompassing constancy, it is perhaps surprising to think that this was not a path that many had foreseen for her when she was born in 1926, and it was only via the constitutional crisis of the abdication of her uncle 10 years later and the early death of her father in 1952 that she came to the throne. The images of her coronation a year later helped to usher in a new age of television, and it could be observed that in every passing decade since then the Queen was both witness to a world of unprecedented technological, economic, political and social change and also a guiding presence accompanying it.

From those early post war years of austerity, through the revolutionary turns of the 1960s and right up to the defining challenges of our current decade, Elizabeth was not just our Queen, but also, as Head of the Commonwealth, an inspirational leader to billions across the globe. The outpouring of tributes to her from world leaders present and past from every corner of the planet is a reminder of just what an iconic, respected, defining and influential figure she was, both as a Head of State and in her own right. I am quite sure that there is no other individual whose death would evoke such a vast, time-stopping response or send such powerful ripples around the world, and I am equally sure that any claim one might have brought on her behalf to being the most famous person in the world would have been hard to match.

But of course the words that are being used in tribute after tribute to describe Queen Elizabeth and to mourn her passing are about as far removed from the domain of fame and celebrity as one could imagine, and it is instead her calmness, her stoicism, her quiet but unwavering hard work and attention to duty, her serenity in the face of so much pressure and public scrutiny, her strong Christian faith and her devotion both to her family and to the service of her people that are rightly the focus of our remembrance today.

In her 70 year reign, she was herself served by 15 different Prime Ministers, from Winston Churchill to the most recent incumbent, Liz Truss, appointed just a few days ago by Her Majesty, a 96 year old working right to the very end, despite her evident frail health. Now THAT is devotion to duty. Ironically, as each came and went, so perhaps the abiding status of the Queen’s own office was enhanced, but nobody today is seeking to make political observations, and each of those surviving Prime Ministers of the last 30 years remembers her with tremendous respect and affection, regardless of the colour of their flag. John Major recalls both her wisdom and the depth of her knowledge about world affairs, whilst Tony Blair praised her “integrity and fidelity” and noted that she “personified everything which makes us proud to be British”. Gordon Brown described her as “conscientious, considerate, caring and patient”, commenting also that “she was a peacemaker, she brought people together and listened to them” David Cameron described her as “the world’s most experienced diplomat”, highlighting also her “grace, dignity and decency”. Theresa May considered her “quite simply the most impressive of all the world leaders” she met, whilst Boris Johnson noted that she was “in many ways the finest monarch in our history.” Many of these former Prime Ministers also commented on the Queen’s humour and sense of fun, something that was often evident in her public life; one thinks, for example, of her skydiving routine alongside ‘James Bond’ at the opening of the London 2012 Olympics or more recently her ‘afternoon tea’ scene with Paddington Bear to mark the opening of this summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, where she confessed that she, too, kept a secret stash of marmalade sandwiches in her handbag “for emergencies”. The current Prime Minister, Liz Truss, described the Queen as “the rock on which modern Britain was built”, adding that “our country has grown and flourished under her reign” and urging everyone to “come together” as we mourn “the passing of the second Elizabethan age.”

Perhaps one of the most endearing, heartfelt and notable tributes to the Queen came not from these political shores, but from a former President of the United States and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, who wrote:

“Her Majesty was just 25 years old when she took on the enormous task of helming one of the world’s great democracies. In the decades that followed, she would go on to make the role of Queen her own, with a reign defined by grace, elegance and a tireless work ethic, defying the odds and expectations placed on women of her generation.

During World War II she became the first ever female royal to serve on active military duty. And through periods of prosperity and stagnation – from the moon landing to the fall of the Berlin Wall to the dawn of the digital age – she served as a beacon of hope and stability for the people of the United Kingdom and the world.

Her Majesty worked with 15 Prime Ministers and countless foreign heads of state. She listened deeply, thought strategically and was responsible for considerable diplomatic achievements, and yet she wore her lofty titles with a light touch, as willing to act in a comic sketch for the London Olympics as she was to record steadying messages for the people of the UK during the COVID-19 lockdowns [you may recall her quiet assurance during that memorable broadcast at the height of the pandemic that “we will meet again”].

When we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity. Time and again we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease and how she brought her considerable humour and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.

Like so many, we are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service.”

Those titles referred to were many and certainly quite lofty, as indicated: Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. She was also, of course, Commander-In-Chief of our Army, Navy and Air Force. Her title of ‘Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England’ dates back to the time of Henry VIII, father of our own founding King Edward VI. Given the strength of her own faith, it was a title that clearly meant a great deal to her personally, as well as publicly, and so we now mark her life and death with a prayer led by Mr Harrison, after which we will observe a minute’s silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

On the occasion of her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Donald Coggan, asserted: “Our nation and Commonwealth have been blessed beyond measure by having at their heart an example of service untiringly done and of duty faithfully fulfilled.” Those words are as true today as they were 45 years ago, as are those in our national anthem, whose focus now changes to our new King, Charles III, even though the sentiments remain the same. Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor certainly lived a long life, and her long reign was undoubtedly happy and glorious. 

75 years after that televised speech in South Africa to which I referred at the start of our assembly, the Queen wrote in her Platinum Jubilee letter: “As we mark this anniversary, it gives me great pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service.” She added, “As I look ahead with a sense of hope and optimism …, I am reminded of how much we can be thankful for”, before reflecting, “And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me.” She signed the letter simply, “Your Servant, Elizabeth R”.

This afternoon we come together as a School to honour that life of service, to give thanks for it and, amidst the sadness and reflection, also to look ahead, as the Queen herself urged, with hope and optimism to a new era.