![]() If there was a blip in her reign, that was it.In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Souza and the second or paternal family name is dos Anjos. It was a time of transition for the monarchy and indeed the rest of the society to the new Information Age. I remember reading Tony Blair’s memoir and the portion on Princess Diana’s death and how he narrated the great efforts it took to convince the Queen to react appropriately to the tragic occasion. But she acquitted herself reasonable well. It was a life with minimal privacy and continuously under the gaze of the media. She lived her life in a gilded cage for over 70 years. Even critics of the institution couldn’t see anything to fault about her. Finding someone who had any untoward thing to say about the Queen was impossible. When a bad ruler dies, the people rejoice. Add that to the outpouring of grief by the whole nation and much of the rest of the world and we will see some lessons for all of us, whether at the individual or communal level. The emphasis that was placed on the “Selfless Service” of the Queen by her people in the last few days is worth examining in this piece. But the British monarchy almost gave way during the rampaging reforms of Oliver Cromwell in the previous century and only survived by its modernising instincts. I guess that during the past two weeks, some French men and women would have been silently regretting why their forebears did away with their monarchy in the 18 th century. And the monarchy stands tall above all else. That may be true but they are still a proud people with an enviable pedigree. ![]() Much has been said and written about the decline and fall of the British empire. In some parts of Nigeria, a king dies and what the local people are subjected to is fear: Rumours of people to be killed to appease the gods the need for people not go out at certain hours of the day, etc., which abound during such a period. According to the late Anwar Sadat, the land is the oxygen of a people. Nobody will do it for you you have to proclaim who you are. ![]() The British seized the opportunity to showcase the best of their traditions and cultural heritage. Discipline in terms of Order and Timeliness. The British people have once again demonstrated to the world that Discipline is one of their hallmarks. By all men and women who desire progress. The planning and flawless execution of the plans for the funeral are worthy of emulation. I will rather dwell on the edifying and take-away points. Well, it is a free world, and people have the right to vent their views and frustrations. Some have even dredged up Britain’s colonial history and concluded that there is nothing edifying about the British people and their monarch. Surely, there are a few people around the world who have grumbled, asking why so much noise is made of Her Majesty’s passing. To be filled by her son, who automatically became King Charles III. A time to remember a time never to be forgotten.Ī Queen for the ages has gone. It was a time of mourning but it was also a time of history. Queen Elizabeth II, a permanent fixture in the world, had passed on. It was clear from that moment that a great thing had happened to the world. My wife and I were at a swanky hotel in Abuja savouring the frills of a party being held for a friend and some of his colleagues by his organisation. Many people around the world will remember exactly where they were when the news was broken. Though she was pretty old at 96, her transition was still a sombre moment. And the moment came in evening of Thursday, 8th September. The Palace had issued a statement that the Queen was gravely ill. The intimations of her imminent passing were brought upon us a few hours earlier. It is difficult to find the appropriate words to describe the transition of Queen Elizabeth II and its aftermath, culminating in her funeral on Monday, 19th September. ![]() None, I repeat none, approximates the farewell accorded the late British monarch.Īmazing. Kings have died and have been buried in the last 100 years heads of state and government have also gone the way of all mortals during the same period. It is not likely that many of us who witnessed the exceptional funeral will see such a thing again in our lifetimes. It is the stuff from which myths are made.
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