A COOL HEAD IN TROUBLED TIMES
YOU South Africa|30 December 2021
She lost her beloved husband, was heartbroken by Harry and Andrew, and battled with her health – but 2021 also saw the arrival of new babies into the royal fold. We take a look back at Her Majesty’s tumultuous year
NICI DE WET
A COOL HEAD IN TROUBLED TIMES

ANNUS horribilis – it’s a phrase she famously used 29 years ago to describe a shocking year when fire swept through her beloved Windsor Castle and the marriages of three of her four children imploded.

But 2021 may well rival the miseries of 1992. Death, divorce, health problems, an ongoing sex scandal, family fallouts, allegations of racism – all this and more affected Queen Elizabeth.

A documentary called 2021: The Queen’s Horrible Year even aired in the UK in November, detailing the calamities that have befallen the most famous family in the world.

However, Charles Anson, her former press secretary, believes the difficulties of the past 12 months haven’t weakened the monarchy – if anything, they’ve made it stronger.

“The strength of our monarchy is that it’s able to adapt,” he says in the doccie.

“It’s changing and I think, providing the values are still there, it often changes for the better.”

And the shoulders many of the values rest on are the tiny ones belonging to the 95-year-old monarch. The queen has covered herself in glory this year, says Stewart Purvis, a former TV executive and documentary producer. “She’s lost her husband and she has a grandson who’s semidetached.

“But she’s symbolised so much of what we hope for from a royal family that, in a sense, I think the respect for her is stronger than ever as a result of the way she’s steered us through these difficult months.”

Journalist Andrew Neil agrees that Her Majesty has led with flair this year. “She’s been a figure of love for the nation as well as a figure of common sense.

This story is from the 30 December 2021 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 30 December 2021 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView All
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
YOU South Africa

HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST

With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs

time-read
5 mins  |
5 December 2024
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
YOU South Africa

SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES

John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love

time-read
5 mins  |
5 December 2024
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
YOU South Africa

SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG

A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them

time-read
4 mins  |
5 December 2024
LIAM LAID TO REST
YOU South Africa

LIAM LAID TO REST

More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
SHILOH HANGS OUT
YOU South Africa

SHILOH HANGS OUT

THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
LEO IN LOVE
YOU South Africa

LEO IN LOVE

He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down

time-read
3 mins  |
5 December 2024
PACKING A PUNCH
YOU South Africa

PACKING A PUNCH

Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it

time-read
4 mins  |
5 December 2024
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
YOU South Africa

I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD

As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome

time-read
5 mins  |
5 December 2024
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
YOU South Africa

'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'

A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars

time-read
4 mins  |
5 December 2024
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
YOU South Africa

THE CLAWS ARE OUT!

Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William

time-read
7 mins  |
5 December 2024