Heaven Sent
Heaven Sent
For just over 70 years, the values, image, voice, and words of one woman – the late Queen –resonated beyond these shores. It is now four years tomorrow since she died and the world stopped as all ages and nations paid tribute to this remarkable woman. Her life experiences, her sense of duty, her years of service and her steadfastness helped many of us find comfort in troubled times.
The code name for the death of Queen Elizabeth II was Operation London Bridge and on September 8, 2022, the specific phrase used by her private secretary to convey the news to the Prime Minister was "London Bridge is down”.
September 8th was also “D Day” whilst were she to die in Scotland (which is what happened), Operation Overlook was the code name for the conveyance of her body back to London. I am sure there were any number of other coded operations around this momentous occasion, but the ones we know of all of sound rather British and reminiscent of a James Bond or World War Two film.
Just as for my own grandparents or my father-in-law, World War Two shaped people’s lives and values. I loved hearing stories from that time, and of how the Queen enlisted and trained as a mechanic, repaired engines or changed tyres and was able to drive heavy military trucks and ambulances. My father-in-law also trained as a mechanic and Geordie does tell some wonderful stories of breaking down at Balmoral and the late Queen and Prince Philip were straight out of the car to sort it out.
I always felt that those years were fundamental to the values, morality, and sense of duty and service of that generation. Furthermore, the actuality and the consequences of the Second World War laid much of the grounds for the world in which we live today.
One of the consequences of World War II was NATO. Its purpose was not to win a war but to prevent one from happening. Whether the problems concern conflict or climate change, the strategy must be to see how we can solve them together, instead of thinking about personal aggrandizement or national consumerism. One of George Washington’s key ethos was to always consider the “the common good” rather than more parochial personal interests and common good is often about self-sacrifice and compromise, exactly the ethics drawn upon during the Second World War.
Millenia ago humans moved in smaller, isolated groups. Today we have spread throughout an overcrowded world it, thus sharing a common destiny whatever our nationality. In a global world with few genuine boundaries to disaster, we somehow need to find a way to value collective responsibility.
Against this global hubbub of noisy voices speaking all at once, one small voice of calm occasionally spoke out, never too often and never without reflection. The language was simple and the words from the heart. She is much missed and listening again to her voice invaluable and reassuring.
44 Comments
One of the saddest days of my life.
For all of us
Thank you for reminding us all of the late Queen’s devotion to duty. It seems that we need more attention to the common good in our world today.
Ageed - and thet long views
Lady Carnarvon,
The late Queen was a true model of how to love many and serve millions while still holding dear her immediate family. She was so respected by so many. I followed her life from the time she was a little girl until she passed away. Thank you for sharing your memories. Martha G.
I think we knew that but when some one leaves us we know more
the pictures is sad of heaven sent and did you and lord Carnarvon have a wonderful weekend and lam fan of Downton Abbey and highcelere castle
What an absolutely perfect "heading" for this piece. The entire world lost an invaluable member with the death of the incomparable Queen Elizabeth II. She truly pondered what was best for everyone/everywhere involved before she spoke. If only there were more like her as her sense of duty above self, equality amongst number is sorely missed. Thank you for this wonderful, perfect tribute.
I think there are people of her view... it is just allowing them to be heard
I was at Squam Lake in New Hampshire when I learned of the Queen's death. I had heard that she had been ill but it came as a shock to hear that she had died. It was a very sad day for me and millions of others throughout the world
Richard
We'll not forget the importance of the late Queen,
even "across the Pond." Thank you very
much as always for your voice, in your essay of
remembrance. Queen Elizabeth II was
heaven-sent to the world; her legacy endures.
Thank You. Remembering the Queen who made this world a kinder place gives one a sweet, sad sense of her influence; makes us wish she was still here.
Her spirit was so strong - she does in a way live on
Lovely life as observed from across the pond. As always, your words are so real - your voice in my mind reading them - and give the heart a lift. Thank you..
She really was a stabilizing force, a truly remarkable woman and leader
What really summed up that day for many of us was the poignant figure of Paddington Bear in the rain and darkness outside the Palace gates, saying,
"Thank you Ma'am... for everything."
And does anyone remember the amazing rainbows that appeared over both BP and Windsor at about the time she passed?
It was if God was saying, "Well done my good and faithful servant."
God rest her Soul
Although I am American with English roots, I always felt a strong conection to the Queen as we share a birthday (April 21st). She was such a complete example of what an English Queen should be!
I do miss her now.
Thank you for sharing such a lovely story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking…...
What an amazing tribute to our much loved late Queen. Thank you for sharing this story Lady Carnarvon
Thank you
I loved the piece. I think the subject would have approved.
You are kind !
An especially moving letter to read on Labor Day here in the United States, a day that honors work, service and contribution to the common good.
Four years on, I remain in awe of the extraordinary breadth of the Queen’s life and her steadfast devotion to duty through more than seventy years of profound change.
Your reflections on NATO also resonate deeply. I worry about alliances, built from the terrible lessons of war and nurtured over generations, becoming vulnerable to the temperament of individual leaders. I hope we never have to relearn why standing together matters.
The Queen’s quiet example of duty, restraint and service feels especially precious now. I hope for a kinder, more just and calmer world—with quieter voices, longer memories and a renewed sense of the common good. Thank you.
Lady Carnarvon, what a lovely words you share this morning. They bring back so many memories and endless appreciation. We will never forget those days of farewell.
I remember how devastated we all were... HOWEVER, after seeing the lonely picture of her by herself at Prince Philip's funeral, and thinking of her years and years AND YEARS of unselfish service to your nation and the world, I found peace in knowing that she was at rest with her lord, her beloved husband and sister and mother and father.
God bless you all
Ellen Bradley from San Francisco, CA
Than you for this beautifully written tribute. While we are Americans( with English and Scottish ancestry) I have always admired the Queen. The world needs more leaders with such integrity. Being older, we are aghast at what is occurring in the world now, especially here in the US and even in the Queens own family. She remains a role model for humanity.
Thank you for the lovely tribute to Her Majesty. She was the British monarch, but in a sense, she belonged to the world.
Thank you also for the candid reminder that NATO is, indeed, under threat from "personal aggrandizement or national consumerism". As an American,
I believe this is important to remember at this crucial time in our history. I hope that very soon in the future we can once more be proud of country, rather
than be embarrassed by it.
Good afternoon.
I really liked your writing on the late Queen and what WWII should have taught us and what we should be still doing today. A question, is it alright to use some of the passage you wrote or would that infringe on a copyright?
Thank you in advance and all the best to you, your family and the people who work at Highclere.
Jayson Lambert-Roszak
New Port Richey, Florida
I am happy to share ..
We were so lucky to have had her as our queen in our lifetime. There may never be another monarch like her. Completely selfless. A wonderful lady.
What a beautiful blog areal pleasure to read such happy memories of a wonderful Queen she will never be forgotten
Thank you
A beautiful tribute Lady Carnarvon
and such wise words and sentiments.
Greetings from Switzerland, where I was delighted to see you on a Swiss tv programme the other day, where a film crew came to your home and the presenters had tea with you in the garden!
You have such a beautiful home!
Thank you - I remember filming with them ! Dong Dong !
We give thanks for the life of Queen Elizabeth, and we honor her extraordinary leadership.
The Queen is dead -- Long live the King, an able son of his able mother.
Keep carrying on!
Thank you for your tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11.
The day she died I was returning to Canada from a trip to England and Ireland. I was in flight and did not hear the news until I landed in Calgary.
I was stunned and devastated to learn of her passing.
I had just been on a tour of Buckingham Palace the week previous and on a tour of the wonderful Highclere Castle and gardens, where I enjoyed a tea and scone.
I wished that I was still in London to line up to pay my respects.
Our Queen will forever be remembered.
Nancy Emde (nee Bell-Smith)
What a lovely read this morning of a very sad day for so many of us. She was a much loved Queen and the most amazing woman in her own right, as well as being our beloved Queen. I particularly liked the comment about the Queen and Prince Philip rushing out to sort our Gordie's parents car. Such natural thoughtfulness. She is much missed. .
her voice was so distinct
Lady Carnavon,
My continued condolences to the world on the loss of the inimitable Queen Elizabeth.
I'm American, but many of us here in the states felt her calmness, grace, and guiding wisdom over the decades.
I agree that in our global world, we need to look at the common good, not the needs of the few, and hope that
my country's leaders return to those precious values very soon.
The long view
Thank you for remembering our Queen. I am Canadian and from the time I was in elementary school we sang God Save the Queen every morning. She was always just there, so quiet, calm and stable. I was so sad the day she passed, and I still miss her too.
How beautiful -
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Dearest Lady Fiona,
Good day from Brazil,
Anjoyable informative
read ...as always and
loved it.