There has been a great deal of coverage of the death of the Queen, yet a number of villagers felt there should be an in memoriam message on this website, to express sincere condolences to the Royal Family, and to signal that we are privileged to be part of a village in England – and even more privileged to have lived in HM the Late Queen’s Realm. This piece has been written by a Wootton Courtenay villager who wishes to remain anonymous.
Marion Jay
Her Majesty’s long reign through times of great change has been the finest example of constitutional monarchy in the world. The Queen was a leading world figure – as witness the present global mourning. Yet the Queen was also, and at heart, a country lady, whose elevation to the throne was unexpected. Possibly despite her preference for life in the country, the Queen grasped and embraced her wider duty from the day of that famous declaration of 1947 until, as she then promised, her dying day – as the final photograph at Balmoral happily exemplifies.
Her Majesty’s reign was indeed long and sometimes arduous, yet it was always marked by characteristic fortitude and wisdom, which helped both the Queen herself, and the country, to overcome problems, setbacks and obstacles which would have defeated others. Throughout her reign, the Queen demonstrated high courage and skill in the national interest, and forged harmony in difficult, divisive times. Just two of the powerful forces Her Majesty commanded in this context was illustrated in her words from the Christmas broadcast of as long ago as 1957: “I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands, and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”
We mourn a loss that is great indeed, but commemorate gratefully a long and marvellous reign. Now, “God Save The King”.
Wootton Courtenay 