Death of a great leader

Saturday 10th September, 2022

The world is mourning a lovable leader as the United Kingdom is struggling to come to terms with its unbearable loss. The new Elizabethan era has come to an end with the demise of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96; her reign was unprecedentedly long and eventful; it lasted more than seven decades. The longest-serving British monarch, she, unlike her namesake Queen Elizabeth I, presided over the decolonisation process and Britain’s transition to modernity. That no doubt was an uphill task which, many did not think, she would be equal to, especially in her youth. She surmounted all obstacles with aplomb, and helped steer her nation to prosperity despite the collapse of the British empire and its politico-economic fallout. Among her admirers were even those who questioned Britain’s wisdom of retaining the British monarchy. Such was her charm, which captivated the entire world.

Queen Elizabeth II led by example, and proved that she was worthy of emulation. Many were the achievements of the great leader, who was a beacon to her nation. The biggest of them, in our book, was that she endeared the British royalty not only to the UK but also other nations. It was no easy task in this day and age. Monarchy has come to be viewed as an anachronism in the modern world, but she made it relevant and meaningful with her charisma, sense of duty, remarkable adaptability and, above all, her love for her country. She was the main source of certainty and stability for Britain in a topsy-turvy world. In peacetime, she became what her father had been during war years. She provided unwavering leadership to her country. The biggest challenge before King Charles III will be to continue her legacy, maintain the popularity of the monarchy, and be the sheet anchor of the nation that his mother was for seven decades. Most of all, he will also have to maintain the unity of the royal family. He has his work cut out, given the differences among its members.

Great as she was, Queen Elizabeth II was not infallible. Her handling of some of her family affairs came in for criticism, as in the case of the Diana controversy, which had an adverse effect on the reputation of Buckingham Palace. A much-publicised claim by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, earlier this year, that Buckingham Palace’s decision to deny Archie the title of prince had been driven by institutional racism within the monarchy also reflected badly on the Queen, who however remained unfazed. Despite such blemishes, as it were, and what her critics may say, all in all, her reign was hugely successful and stood Britain in good stead.

The Queen’s death has diminished the world as never before. The Commonwealth will miss her for decades to come. True leaders are like great oaks. When they are gone, voids they leave are difficult to fill. Condolences are pouring in from around the world as arrangements are being made for the royal funeral.

The Sri Lankan Parliament paid a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, and the national flag is flying at half-mast. But our leaders have never cared to emulate the Queen. They have apparently learnt only one thing from her; they are also determined to hold on to their positions until they go the way of all flesh. The Queen dedicated her life to the service of her nation and proved that it was worth living. This is the lesson that leaders all over the world, especially in countries like Sri Lanka, ought to learn from the great leader.