I took a boatload of pics of Her Majesty, Queen Z. These are 3 of my favorites. She's still so commanding, even all these years of being off the track. I will absolutely adore her until the end of my days. She's breathtaking.
186 notes
·
View notes
On September 8, 2022, the world lost a beacon of light. And while sad for our loss, her earlier words were a reminder of those she was reuniting with, and who could be sad at that.
On this first anniversary, I'll be reflecting on her legacy. I'm pasting the text of her 2020 speech because so many facets of it are just as important today. And how amazing is it that she mentions the NHS rainbows in her speech, when the universe marked her own passing with a double rainbow, which appeared before any public announcement had been made. [I still believe the second rainbow was Philip welcoming her.] 💕 💕
“I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.
“I want to thank everyone on the NHS (National Health Service) front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.
“I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.
“I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.
“The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children.
“Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort.
“And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation.
“It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us.
“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.
“But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.”
- Queen Elizabeth, April 5, 2020
50 notes
·
View notes
If you want people to @ you about Her Majesty, I'm only too happy to darken your virtual doorstep.
Please expand on your statement that (quoting from memory) ending their recording career with Her Majesty is the beatliest thing the Beatles ever did. Also (optional) please tie this in with any thoughts on where Lennon and McCartney were at at the time, in terms of their creative collaboration. I'd be very interested in your thoughts; thank you in advance!
Ooh, thanks for this ask!
So first of all, is Abbey Road the end of their recording career?
I think so. It's weird to think that several of their most iconic songs are on Let It Be when it's such a mess in so many ways. But it was recorded first, and for me Abbey Road is a kind of thesis conclusion.
Well then, is Her Majesty the end of Abbey Road?
Someone in the notes of the post you're referring to called Her Majesty the post-credits scene of the album, and that is fair. But that's not how I think of it. Abbey Road is arguably the apotheosis of the album form. Flowing perfectly from one song to another, pulling together all their influences, their compositions mixing and blending until we reach The End. Guitar battle, drum solo, loveyouloveyouloveyou. And then Paul pulls down the band's collective glasses and says "it's only us!". Their humour and irreverence was such a key part of their charm, and it's important to me that they close their Magnum Opus with a silly ditty that got there by accident.
Where were Lennon/McCartney at?
Unfortunately, I think it had to be Paul who made the joke, because John had lost sight of the beauty of charming irreverence at that time. His humourlessness in 1969 is heartbreaking tbh. What humour he did have leaned into his cruelty (cf Sun King).
Warning: headcanon follows
John had lost faith in their collaboration, but Paul never did. John was afraid that Paul could produce something like Abbey Road without him, and even convinced himself that Paul had done so. But (as much as I love Wings) Paul could never produce anything on that level without those specific collaborators, and he never believed he could. (Though he hadn't yet recognised how vital George and Ringo were to the magic). Abbey Road was extremely collaborative, and The End captures that spirit in a deep way, even if John couldn't see it. And then Her Majesty says "lol".
18 notes
·
View notes