Historian: Queen Elizabeth Was Britain’s “Center of Gravity”

THAT HER SENSE OF PUBLIC SERVICE WAS FORMED IN THE 1930s, WHICH IS A TERRIFYING PERIOD.

NOT CLEAR WHETHER BRITTAIN WOULD EMERGE AS A VICTOR.

SHE WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABDICATION WITH HER UNCLE.

IN A WAY THERE WERE TWO MEMBERS OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

HER FATHER WAS EXCEPTIONALLY SHY.

HE SUFFERED, AS PROBABLY MANY OF YOU KNOW, FROM THIS BRUTAL STAMMER.

NONETHELESS, HE TOOKD ON THE ROLE OF KING.

HE LEFT THIS YOUNG DAUGHTER WITH A BIG JOB.

SHE COULD PROVIDE A CENTER OF GRAVITY TO A COUNTRY WHICH WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TRIALS AND TRAUMAS IS IMPORTANT TO HER.

HERE'S A PROFESSORIAL NOTE.

SHE IS THE LONGEST REINING MONARCH.

QUEEN ELIZABETH I, HER NAMESAKE, QUEEN VICTORIA, GEORGE III WHO LOST THE LUST OF AMERICA, A VERY LONG REIN.

IN EACH CASE, WHEN THOSE MONARCHS DIED, DESPITE THE LOSS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES, ESSENTIALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRITTAIN AS A RISING POWER.

WHEN THEY DIED BRITTAIN WAS MORE OUTGOING, MORE PROSPEROUS, MORE OUTGOING THAN THEY HAD BEEN WHEN THEY WENT TO THE THRONE.

IN QUEEN ELIZABETH'S TURN, IT WAS NOT THE COLD WAR AND NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION.

SHE PRESIDED OVER A CONTRACTING REALM, HOWEVER YOU PUT IT.

BRITTAIN INSERTS AN IDENTITY INTO EUROPE, OUT OF EUROPE.

NO MORE ROOM TO KNOW.

IT BECAME DISPROPORTIONALLY SIMPLE.

SHE WAS A NON-POLITICAL EMBODIMENT OF WHAT A NATIONAL COMMUNITY COULD BE.