I’m in awe of the Queen

[Nahhh]

I’m no royalist, I dislike the fawning, particularly towards younger members of the family. Somehow I find myself watching Trooping the Colour and I can’t help but be impressed by the Queen.

She’s 95, very recently widowed following 70 odd years of marriage. She’s just got back from Cornwall and is again on active duty, enjoying this event. I know she’s lived an incredibly pampered life with the best health care, etc. I’m just amazed by her sense of duty and her strength.

It really must be a comfort.

But just because you lead a comfortable life and have no real financial worries is no guarantee of good health or long life

No, true. But I know someone who was been waiting for such a long time for a hip replacement, they are in constant pain. I just can't imagine what it must be like for the RF. Because it's what us mere mortals live with isn't it, waiting lists and a wonderful but creaking NHS.. just so different.

I think if one has private health insurance, it’s not so much if a problem and you can get good and prompt care.

And now with wearables and digital monitoring and so on, many people will get access to better care. I hope!

No doubt the Queen has benefitted from having amazing healthcare and no money worries.

I’m sure she has had other worries though about her marriage, children, job etc. No one really lives a worry-free life.

I think that the public accepting a head of state who is 95 has helped break perceptions of age and ability.

My absolutely fav female political figure is Merkel. In my view she is a good mix of intelligent, measured and ‘I don’t give a fuck’!

I know about the replacements. It does suck. A colleague has had an awful time.

To get too young (so have to wait), too large (lose weight), too ill (wait until more stable), too big again (because can’t move due to pain) - it is all aboard the merry go round sometimes.

Health wise life is a lottery. No cures for my family. So wealth, doctors on call, money or jewels would mean nothing.

And I truly can’t complain really because our wonderful and creaky NHS has kept them ticking.

Toothache is a bastard though. No one should be left with agonising toothache. You have my sympathy there.

How true @SheldonesqueTheBstard. My DH has MS and no amount of money can help him with that. Nor could private doctors do anything about it. So good health is not a given even if you are comfortably well off like the Queen, although it will of course protect you on some ways. It is probable that doctors were trying to help PP to survive until his 100th birthday, but they were unable to perform miracles.

Aye smilesy

The Queen is indeed fortunate with regards to her access to healthcare and the like but she is even more fortunate to not be stricken in her prime with something for which there is no cure - only management. (Or as far as we know anyway).

She glories on regardless - like so many of us. Life isn’t totally easy for anyone. Arguably it could be easier or more comfortable but I don’t for one minute think it is easy.

As you said, miracles are just that. They aren’t the norm and when your time is up, no amount of intervention will help.

To all of us who glory on - and that includes The Boss.

There’s a lot to be said for it. 🌻

Absolutely right @smilesy. Dh’s dgm, also 95, is wealthy, has had servants her whole life to look after her and is a tough old bird who has run the family business since her dh died thirty years ago. She has been hit by a series of illnesses in the last couple of years and has gone from being a strong matriarch to a lady who can barely get out of bed. Money doesn’t shield you from illness. It gives you more options but it doesn’t stop you getting ill. I think the Queen is incredibly lucky with her health.

I think at the end of the day, she's a nan. A great nAn is she a great great nan? Probably.

But she's an older women who has lost her partner. Of many years. Her life partner.

The poor women. Money can't buy you happiness and regardless of her privileges she's lost her husband. The poor women.
Whatever their marriage was, it's a blow to her. She's at the end of her life. Regardless of who she is, the poor women.

That's all I think.

@HeadNorth

I don't understand why she hasn't retired and handed the reins over to Charles years ago. Yes, she is great for age, but I am not sure I buy all the 'service' stuff. She doesn't have to do it, in fact it would be a kindness to her son to step back and let him take his turn. I wonder if she really dislikes Charles or thinks he is utterly useless that she feels she has to keep going. Otherwise it seems a bit selfish and arrogant, that she thinks no one else can possibly do the job.

She believes it is her God given duty to serve the nation for her whole life. These were the vows she made when she was crowned. I think she’s an example of strength and fortitude , selfless duty and commitment. Values which are gone in society now sadly. I will be very sad when she dies. An era will be over and I don’t think the RF will survive in decades to come.

She looked radiant with Joe Biden yesterday.

'She believes it is her God given duty to serve the nation for her whole life. These were the vows she made when she was crowned.I think she’s an example of strength and fortitude , selfless duty and commitment. Values which are gone in society now sadly.'

Yes. She really does rise above the crap and lead by example.

Oh please. There is nothing as burning a s platitudes and veneration.

I’m sure she was a curmudgeon biddy, controlling and difficult MIL. Probably quite money minded too. And mellowed with age, enjoying life.

But you know what? Women don’t need to be perfect. It is ok to have loads of character flaws but still be admired for doing your job.

Boring

And society has values now, kids more focused on our climate and are interested in exploring and pushing boundaries.

It is a wonderful time to be alive and loads of promise for the future.

People who look at the past with rose tinted glasses and moan about “today’s generation” 🙄

I'm ABSOLUTELY not a royalist and I think they should be pared down and some.

But I adore admire and revere the Queen

'I’m sure she was a curmudgeon biddy, controlling and difficult MIL. Probably quite money minded too'

Biddy? A rather derogatory ageist term. I doubt very much she is controlling and difficult, she seems exceptionally patient and tolerant with the most recent crap she's had to deal with.

I wonder how many 95 year olds could deal with losing their husband of nearly 100 whilst in lockdown, having been largely isolated for a year and still have all the crap that Harry and Meghan have thrown at her in a very public way and rise above it all? She hasn’t even even taken any time off to properly grieve. Just straight back in the harness. Yes, she does have loads of support, staff and back up and no money worries. That is a luxury most people don’t have, but she is not able to retire or hide away from the world. She can’t even grieve in peace. Her whole family are being trashed on national TV and she has no voice to speak up against it.

Values have shifted but they often reset again in the following generation.

Grandparents and grandchildren can sometimes unite in thinking the parents generation have things a bit wrong.

Why trash H&M in this thread @BreakingtheIce? Can’t help but hate, eh?

'wonder how many 95 year olds could deal with losing their husband of nearly 100 whilst in lockdown, having been largely isolated for a year and still have all the crap that Harry and Meghan have thrown at her in a very public way and rise above it all? '

Yes it must hurt deeply expecially when she bent over backwards to ensure all the support was in place. Still, she clearly has experience of dealing with much hurt and disappointment over the years with family dramas, she's an old hat at it really. You get the feeling behind the scenes she will be getting 100% support from her close family.

@BreakingtheIce - my apologies to you.

I have asked for my post to be withdrawn as I had misread @Gorgeouslilgirl's post.

We have no idea how patient and tolerant she is. We are shown what the PR machine wants us to see.

This is a lady who has never given a controversial opinion, or an interview so we just don't know what she is like. We only know what we are allowed to see. She could be remarkably impatient for all we know! (not say she is)

From what we are shown, yes, she has an exceptional sense of duty but do we really know her character? I think we can guess, and yes it's all good but I cannot profess to know what she is like because what I see is what we are given to see.

This is not a criticism of her. As I've said before on here, she has a strong sense of duty and works hard, and I think she's a one off.

Is acknowledging that people are human with failings a criticism? Do we really believe in “divine right” and that the “chosen one” is perfect?

If we look at history. Most male figure are shown to be quite human, with the good bad and ugly sides shown. It doesn’t detract from their achievements.

Yet we are supposed to speak in only sickly saccharine tones here regarding the Queen? Will we respect her any less if she has human flaws?

I think it is the glorification of women, the perfect woman, mother, wife. The terms of duty, sacrifice, reticence. All so admired in women.

I would prefer if we could be more human and show loving acceptance of each other’s human-ness. Instead of getting into a huff and creating an unreal image of “perfection”