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."
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