The Queen who "doesn't do" politics
The Queen is probably the most capable politician in living memory.
This article was originally published in The Stornoway Gazette
The Queen, famously, doesn’t do politics. As she approaches her 70th year on the throne, she has astutely navigated 14 prime ministers - her first was Winston Churchill. She has given Royal Assent to around 4,000 Acts of Parliament. She was the first British Monarch to visit China (1986), to address the US Congress (1991) and to be accompanied by James Bond to the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. While she doesn’t “do” politics, she has definitely “done” politics in a far more diplomatic, decent and downright clever way than most politicians.
She is still broadly thought of as some sort of ceremonial figurehead. But, as she marks her 70th year as monarch, Queen Elizabeth deserves more credit than that. She’s visited more than 100 countries and hosted more than 100 world leaders. The vast amount of change she has overseen from her various palaces is likely never to be witnessed by her successors, whether in the rate of technological advance, shifting world power or beginnings and ends of war and peace. She is arguably the most effective diplomat the UK has, building relationships around the world that outlast prime ministers and politicians. Her charmingly nonchalant, yet influential approach to politics in the UK is a delight.
It is not treasonous to reflect on the fact that her making it to the Platinum Jubilee weekend has been in doubt, until even a few weeks ago. She has not been in the best health, perhaps most notably indicated by her absence from the state opening of Parliament early in May. She had only missed two other openings of Parliament, due to being pregnant. Mind you, with the shower of charlatans currently residing on the green benches of the House of Commons, who can blame her? It’s enough to make anyone suitably unwell so as to avoid.
Anyone who has met The Queen is left basking in her monarchic glow
Many reflect on The Queen’s ability to build relationships and to charm and to add a personal connection to the most fleeting of encounters. From Prime Ministers to volunteers to, I’m sure, you or someone you know, anyone who has met The Queen is left basking in her monarchic glow.
A church minister friend of ours recalls how she took great delight in charging across the Balmoral estate behind the wheel of a land rover while he sat in the passenger seat. Did you know she doesn’t need a driving license, or a passport for that matter?
She has navigated, even recent, political turmoil in the UK: the independence referendum in 2014 where there was a scrap over whether she would remain as Queen of an independent Scotland, or the Brexit referendum in 2016. She saw out Theresa May’s 1000-or-so days in office, and she might be about to sign, seal and deliver Boris Johnson’s successor too.
“I have had quite a lot of prime ministers”
“I have had quite a lot of prime ministers,” she said in a BBC documentary in 1992. “They unburden themselves or they tell me what’s going on or if they’ve got any problems and sometimes one can help in that way too.
“They know that one can be impartial so to speak. I think it’s rather nice to feel that one’s a sort of sponge and everybody can come and tell one things…”
The fact of the matter is that we’ll never really know the extent to which The Queen has influenced events at home and abroad, with a firm “quiet word” or private conversation or phone call here and there. I would suggest that she is the only (non-political) politician we can actually be proud of today.
One does turn to thoughts of who will succeed one upon the throne. Prince Charles is hardly charming. The Sunday Times has been reporting on allegations of cash-for-honours linked to the Prince’s Trust charity. On a number of occasions, Clarence House has issued statements saying: “The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities.” Indeed, among the many in the Queen’s line, it is hard to find anyone admirable: Charles, Andrew, Harry (and Meghan.)
What is not to like about a woman who has given 70 years in service?
I’m no monarchist - indeed, the only thing I can identify to be as neutral as The Queen on politics is my viewpoint on the Royal Family as an institution: a bit of “whatever”. But over the last few years, I think my position as an “Elizabethist” has been secured. What is not to like about a woman who has given 70 years in service, often real-life service as in the war, or “soft power” service with our empty-headed prime ministers and politicians?
In an era where political neutrality is rare, let alone sought after, The Queen navigates the line admirably. While her role as head of state may be considered ceremonial, there is meaning in the fact that world leaders bow or curtsy in her presence. London is festooned in Union Flags in anticipation of the four day bank holiday weekend; pubs will be festooned in drinkers and Boris Johnson will be festooned in controversy because, quite simply, whenever is he not? The monarch may be merely symbolic on paper, but Queen Elizabeth has wielded a lot of influence for good in 70 years and we’d do well to crave someone who does so again - both in those who “do” politics and in those who merely “do politics”.
