I always expected the Platinum Jubilee to be full of British patriotism, pomp, and ancient regal tradition, albeit with the contemporary pizzazz of 21st-century technology. What I wasn't prepared for was how deeply moving the four-day extravaganza would be.
In the end, Her Majesty appeared briefly on just four occasions, three of which were on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but her spirit was everywhere.
I was on the ground in London for every step of the occasion - one I'm sure we will be poring over for decades, if not centuries, to come and the poignancy of being part of what in all likelihood will be the House of Windsor's only Platinum Jubilee and the final years of the Elizabethan era was palpable.
Most Kiwis, Aussies, and Brits have only known one head of state: Queen Elizabeth II. And as Prince Philip was for Her Majesty, this monarch has been our "strength and stay" her dedication to service a shining example in a world that seems to have become increasingly divided.
As a young queen, Elizabeth II was glamorous and energetic, her appetite to travel to all corners of the world especially the Commonwealth and her realms, including Aotearoa - exciting and impactful. As she matured, Her Majesty began to offer something deeper, partly a reassurance for the people that she will always have our backs, but also values of decency and compassion founded on a profound personal faith - which powerfully makes a point of honouring and welcoming other religions - and a commitment to a promise she made on her 21st birthday that has never wavered. As she said in her first televised Christmas address in 1957, "I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice. But I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
PRETTY WOMAN
Dial up the joy with a mood-boosting self-care session done in the privacy of your own home. It’s a blissful way to banish the winter blues.
Hitting a nerve
Regulating the vagus nerve with its links to depression, anxiety, arthritis and diabetes could aid physical and mental wellbeing.
The unseen Rovals
Candid, behind the scenes and neverbefore-seen images of the royal family have been released for a new exhibition.
Great read
In novels and life - there's power in the words left unsaid.
Winter dinner winners
Looking for some thrifty inspiration for weeknight dinners? Try our tasty line-up of budget-concious recipes that are bound to please everyone at the table.
Winter baking with apples and pears
Celebrate the season of apples and pears with these sweet bakes that will keep the cold weather blues away.
The wines and lines mums
Once only associated with glamorous A-listers, cocaine is now prevalent with the soccer-mum set - as likely to be imbibed at a school fundraiser as a nightclub. The Weekly looks inside this illegal, addictive, rising trend.
Former ballerina'sBATTLE with BODY IMAGE
Auckland author Sacha Jones reveals how dancing led her to develop an eating disorder and why she's now on a mission to educate other women.
MEET RUSSIA'S BRAVEST WOMEN
When Alexei Navalny died in a brutal Arctic prison, Vladimir Putin thought he had triumphed over his most formidable opponent. Until three courageous women - Alexei's mother, wife and daughter - took up his fight for freedom.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START
Responsible for keeping the likes of Jane Fonda and Jamie Lee Curtis in shape, Malin Svensson is on a mission to motivate those in midlife to move more.
