“Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.” Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas broadcast, 2002.

This is the 450th blog that I have written and I had prepared something to celebrate this significant milestone. However, it has been such a momentous and sad week for our nation that I have written something I believe to be more fitting.

I, along with many people in our country and indeed across the world was very sad to learn last Thursday of the death of Queen Elizabeth II at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, aged 96.  She had been our Monarch for 70 years.

Her Majesty was a constant in many of our lives. Her selfless and unstinting service to our nation and the Commonwealth will be sadly missed but never forgotten. My thoughts are with Her Majesty’s family and I send my sincere condolences. The Queen was a remarkable lady, the like I doubt we will ever see again. Our former Prime Minister Theresa May in her tribute said Her Majesty was “quite simply the most remarkable person I have ever met.”

Although I’ve been privileged to meet King Charles III on a couple of occasions, unfortunately, I never got to meet the Queen. However, she felt so familiar and like part of the family. It was a real shock to learn of her passing and I felt a huge sense of loss. We have all grown up with her as part of our lives. We have seen her face every time we have handled our currency or sent or received a letter with a postage stamp on it. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet that she is no longer with us.

As I reflected on the Queen’s life and the legacy she has left behind, the following thoughts about the impact she had and how she was First Class occurred to me:

Selfless service to others and integrity

She dedicated her life to her role and service to others. She displayed the highest integrity, as she said what she was going to do and she did it. In her speech on her Coronation Day, on June 2, 1953 she said “I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life, and with all my heart, I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.” I believe she kept her word on this pledge. She honoured the traditions of the Monarchy faultlessly and maintained her neutrality, free from politics throughout her reign.

Stoic and calm in a crisis

Like every person and family, the Queen faced her own set of challenges, pain and suffering throughout her life. However, she never blamed or complained and embodied the belief that “this too will pass.” She was stoic when her father died 6 days after she and Prince Philip left for a state visit to Africa. After learning of her father’s passing whilst in Kenya, she had to calm herself and immediately return to the UK to step into the role of Queen.

She remained calm and collected whilst riding her horse at the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in 1981, when a teenager in the crowd fired six blank shots at her. In his tribute, Elton John said the Queen was “an inspiring presence in his life.” He went on to say “She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine warmth.” 

Knew the right thing to say at the right time

The Queen had an amazing ability to find the right words to express in any given situation. A good example of this was in 2017 and I featured it in my book “Just Be.” In that year, the UK witnessed the awful Grenfell Tower fire tragedy and suffered 4 terrorist attacks in Manchester and London.

In her birthday message that year she said “today is traditionally a day of celebration. This year, however, it is difficult to escape a very sombre national mood. In recent months, the country has witnessed a succession of terrible tragedies.” She went on to say “put to the test, the United Kingdom has been resolute in the face of adversity. United in our sadness, we are equally determined, without fear or favour, to support all those rebuilding lives so horribly affected by injury and loss.”

Great wisdom and knowledge

The Queen worked hard all her life and had a great work ethic. She was knowledgeable and well briefed and was able to draw on her considerable experience in her interactions with others. The Queen discharged her state duties right to the very end of her life. She continued to read and deal with boxes of state papers right up to her death last week. Just two days before her passing she was pictured conducting audiences with an outgoing and new Prime Minister.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was one of the last people to meet with her just 48 hours before she died. He said of that meeting “I can tell you, in that audience, she was as radiant and as knowledgeable and as fascinated by politics as ever I can remember and as wise in her advice as anyone I know, if not wiser.” He described her as “Elizabeth the Great.”

Saw the best in others and didn’t take herself too seriously

Many people who have met with the Queen remarked on her warmth, her sense of humour and that she didn’t take herself too seriously.

I have a personal example of this. A few years ago, a friend of mine told me a story about when someone he knows met the Queen. It was a chance meeting at a tea shop at Norfolk Lavender near the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. The person in question walked into the shop. He noticed a lady sitting at a table enjoying a pot of tea and chatting to a younger man.  He approached her and said “forgive me for interrupting your tea but you look so much like the Queen.”

The lady in question, smiled, started laughing, winked at the younger man she was with (a personal protection officer) and said “that’s probably because I am the Queen.” The person in question felt pretty silly and wanted the ground to open up. The Queen put him at ease.

In an emotional first address to the nation, King Charles III said “Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived.” He renewed his “darling Mama’s” promise of lifelong service and praised her warmth, humour and ability to see the best in people.

Queen Elizabeth was much loved and revered and has left a massive void to be filled. It will take time for us all to come to terms with her passing and to adapt to life without her. She discharged her duties in a First Class manner right to the very end of her life. She will be missed for a long time to come. May she rest in peace.

This week, why not take a few moments to reflect and consider what you have learned most from Queen Elizabeth’s life and how you can apply this learning to your life.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk