News from Westminster
This week has been unlike any other week in my lifetime. On Monday we had a Queen, and a male Prime Minister. By Thursday we had a King and a female Prime Minister. As I write, we are in a period of National Mourning for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The date of the funeral has been announced; world leaders have been sending their condolences; the Royal Family has gathered. London is filling with people and flowers showing their love and respect for our beloved Monarch.
We all knew that this day would come, and yet we all hoped that it wouldn’t. The Queen has been a constant presence throughout my life, and indeed throughout the lives of my parents and grandparents. I am sure we will all eventually get used to saying “His Majesty” and singing "God save our gracious King". For now it feels new and strange. The King has already started work – within 48 hours of his mother’s death, he held his first audience with the new Prime Minister, and met the Cabinet as well as opposition leaders.
As Her Majesty’s Vice Chamberlain, I had the privilege and honour of writing to Her Majesty every day that the House of Commons was sitting. It is called the Message and details the day’s proceedings in parliament. It ensured that the Queen was fully informed of the working of Her Government. I no longer hold the role of Vice Chamberlain – the new Vice Chamberlain of His Majesty’s Household will now instead be writing the Message to the King every day. I have no doubt that it will be read carefully, as he shows the same dedication and service to his role as his beloved late mother before him.
The relationship between Monarch and Parliament is a finely balanced one, depending on hundreds of years of history. At times, it may seem steeped in so much tradition that it is divorced from normal life. And yet modernity and tradition can travel hand in hand. On Saturday 11th September the new King was pronounced at the Accession Council. The words and ceremony were ancient, developed over centuries. But for the first time, proceedings were led by a woman – Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt is now President of the Council. And we were all able to see and hear it all on television.
The ancient and modern of Parliament and Monarchy will continue. As we mourn our Queen, I firmly believe that amidst the mourning, there should also be a celebration of a life well lived, of a life of duty, service and sacrifice. And perhaps each one of us should try to be a little bit more like Her Late Majesty the Queen.
God save the King.
