Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Duty

This woman is eighty-five years old. And she remains an exemplary manifestation of steely resolve…elegant amidst immutable primogeniture. She understood and accepted her duty and did so with soft gravity. She’s handled her assignment thus far, with grace and aplomb while under a magnified spotlight that most of us would find unbearable.
 Many of the same trials and tribulations that regular folk encounter have come her way as well. Sovereigns are not immune to aging parents, sibling mortality and the heartbreaking disappointments of their offspring. so here's to strong women. And duty.
  
“Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.”
Robert E. Lee

Onward. Going home today.
ADG II

22 comments:

yoga teacher said...

Yes. Well said, ADG. The later generations of royalty have been very entertaining to watch, but none have her dignity.
And I'm sure we'll never know, but I've always wondered what she puts in those little purses, because I don't think she needs to carry money or a cell around.

Barima said...

I, for one, will freely list those qualities amongst her good points, too

B

James said...

True, so true.

Belle de Ville said...

She comes from good stock, the Queen Mother was amazing too.
Unfortunately, she has to keep on doing her duty because she can't turn over the reins, so to speak, to her son.

JKG said...

How do people feel about the grandson? I have hopes for him.

It's odd -- I'm fully American in all the usual ways and habits (hopefully more of the good and less of the not-so), but I've always felt as though the British monarchy was also my royal family, once removed. So I enjoy them without being burdened by them.

Britt Sudduth said...

D. Would you say that her hat is a bit "Fuzzy"?

Britt

Anonymous said...

Amen.

God Save the Queen.

old said...

A Yankee perspective on your R.E. Lee quote - Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other - William Tecumseh Sherman

Britt Sudduth said...

D. So would you consider her hat "Fuzzy"?

Britt

Main Line Sportsman said...

Clearly a tough old broad...and Royalty to boot..you do not want to piss her off...she could banish you...or just turn one of those withering Royal glances on you.

JMW said...

I saw the Queen from afar a few years ago when she attended the Derby. She was a lovely site in green, and of course she sported a fabulous hat. And, since my daughter shares the same name, I hold a special place for QEII.

Anonymous said...

How embarrassing. Thought I was reading Admiral Cod for a minute, but the absence of swastikas gave it away.

Scott said...

It won't surprise you to learn that I'm probably one of the biggest Monarchists you know. Well done.

Remember the Queen's Official Birthday this year on June 11.

Scott

Young Fogey said...

She is an amazing woman, yes, but I wonder if she hasn't been more reticent than necessary.

She has done nothing while a thoroughly un-Christian and wicked man, Rowan Williams, has made a mockery of the Anglican Church (a humorous take here). She has done nothing while her home islands have been invaded by wave after wave of unassimilable immigrants. She has done nothing while the welfare state has turned the once reserved, doughty Brits into a nation of vulgar yobs.

Now, I realize that as a constitutional monarch, she has no actual power--but she does have influence and prestige. Judiciously applied, she could have done something more for her people than just serve as figurehead.

It is sad that the United Kingdom became the Disunited Serfdom during her reign. She did not choose for those changes to happen, but I believe that she could have done something--or, at the very least, have tried to do something--to stop the destruction of her people.

Extreme? Apocalyptic? Let me put it to you this way: do you think that modern British adult males (I will not dignify them by calling them "men") could muster the will and ability to fight like their ancestors did in WWII? Do you think that modern Brits will produce another Austen, Babbage, Chaplin, Chaucer, Churchill, Cook, Dickens, Disraeli, Drake, Elgar, Faraday, More, Nelson, Newton, Purcell, Shakespeare, Thatcher, Tolkien, Victoria, Watt, or Wilberforce?

I take no joy in seeing No Longer Great Britain deteriorate. I am saddened by its sickness, and can only hope and pray that they will somehow be able to recover.

ADG said...

JKG...Re your comment...couldn't post it. I was threatened with litigation...thin skinned little shit no?

FogeyYoung...Read "Londonistan" if you want to be further troubled by the condition of Britain. I agree with your sentiments in general but believe that you are pointing your ire in the wrong direction--at the wrong target. The Queen, even in symbolic roles, offers little to the condition(s) you astutely identify. So lay off! Just kidding. And here's the other thing...I doubt the good ole USA could muster any better resolve the John Bull these days.

Scottie...just got home and got your emails. I'll shoot you a reply in a moment.

JMW...I saw the whole gaggle of them at Trooping the Colour several years ago.

MainLiner...or burn your damn suit coat.

Britt...I would but in a Royal way.

old...I'll allow it.

Belle...yes, the Queen Mother was a good one.

Yogateach...she keeps her dope in there.

Barima....vir....James and all...thanks

JKG said...

You have got to be f-ing kidding me. There's no way he wins, in fact, the suit itself proves out the post.

Anonymous said...

Young Fogey? Please excuse my interruption. You mostly hold yourself in check. But you are lately more and more out of control. Your latest comment almost spiked my desire to have your family notified of an intervention arranged for you. I will tell you now that you need to step down from the amount of whatever you are consuming and join The Humans. They have been in control of the Earth now for some time.
Sorry. I just had to say this. It's for your own good. ADG is innocent and can delete this comment. He is only a man. A blog man. With some weirdo followers. (That be me... not the rest of yall)

Young Fogey said...

ADG Fuzzy Dice Preppy Pimp Mon,

Yeah, I know that the Queen has no actual power, but as I said before, she has influence and prestige. She could have used it. I don't blame her for what's happened; I'm just saddened that she did nothing to stop it.

I agree that we're in much the same boat and not much better off, but I think we have a better chance of recovery, though I fear that things will get much worse before they get better.

Anon 9:26,

So are you saying it's "human" to do to the UK what has been done to it? I find it reprehensible, and--to use a word that's probably not in your vocabulary because I suspect you don't believe in it--evil.

Laguna Fellow Fogey,

Thanks.

ADG said...

Ok Fogeys...the allsiest thing I did was talk about a lady in a hat. But no, you two...you have to go an get all factual and substantive.

Young Fogey said...

Sorry. It's a personality flaw of mine.

Susan R said...

Are you serious?! I find her to be an unfeeling, unresponsive living corpse. A complete "by the rules" robot. Sorry.

Young Fogey said...

I think she was magnificent in WWII, but that she's gone a long way downhill since then. I also think her son will be one of the worst monarchs in English history, and that his elder son won't be any good either. I do not wish any harm to Chumpy Charlie or to Wimpy Wills, but Harry seems to have more kingliness in his toenail clippings than the other two could ever muster, even if you pumped 'em both full of steroids, testosterone, and Viagra.