Queen Elizabeth II has clocked her 70th anniversary since acceding to the throne in 1952, following the King George VI.
In a letter which she had earlier issued on February 5, the queen thanked her subjects, stating that it is her pleasure to renew to them the pledge she gave in 1947 that her life will always be devoted to their service.
Part of her letter reads, "As I look ahead with a sense of hope and optimism to the year of my Platinum Jubilee, I am reminded of how much we can be thankful for. These last seven decades have seen extraordinarily progress socially, technologically and culturally that have benefited us all, and I am confident that the future will often similar opportunities to us and especially to the younger generations in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth.
"I am fortunate to have had the steadfast and loving support of my family, I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father's reign.
"This anniversary also affords me a time to reflect on the goodwill shown to me by people of my nationalities, faiths and ages in this country and around the world over these years. I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support. I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me. And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King. I know you will give him and his wife Camila the support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camila will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.
"And so as I look forward to continuing to serve you with all my heart, I hope this Jubilee will bring together families and friends, neighbors and communities - after some difficult times for so many of us - in order to enjoy the celebrations and to reflect on the positive developments in our day to day lives that have so happily coincided with my reign."
Post a Comment