A paradox. This is how one of Britain’s best-known experts on the royal house describes Queen Elizabeth’s reign. For 50 years, Robert Lacey has studied the British royal family and written several books about it, including a biography of Queen Elizabeth. Lacey has also been a consultant for the Netflix series The Crown about the Queen’s life. Historian and author Robert Lacey has written many books about the British royal family, including a biography of Queen Elizabeth II. He has also assisted in the script work for the Netflix series The Crown. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news Historian and author Robert Lacey has written many books about the British royal family, including a biography of Queen Elizabeth II. He has also assisted in the script work for the Netflix series The Crown. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news news met the historian for a conversation about the queen when her health had begun to fail, but before she had died. This is how he summarized Queen Elizabeth’s achievements: She dissolved the Empire Portrait of Queen Elizabeth is removed before Hong Kong became independent in 1997. Photo: STEPHEN SHAVER / AFPPortrait of Queen Elizabeth is removed before Hong Kong became independent in 1997. Photo: STEPHEN SHAVER / AFP The biggest left behind is the dissolution of the British Empire. When she took the throne in 1952, she simultaneously took over 70 overseas territories. During her reign, almost 50 colonies have become independent nations, among them Egypt, Kenya and Hong Kong. These countries became independent nations that today make up a quarter of the UN. – In almost every single case, the queen traveled there and apologized for the past. It was the politicians in various governments who decided this, but it was Queen Elizabeth who stood at the forefront. This is considered the truly great achievement of her era, says Lacey. She held the Commonwealth together Queen Elizabeth in front of the Commonwealth flags. Photo: Steve Parsons / APDQueen Elizabeth in front of the Commonwealth flags. Photo: Steve Parsons / AP What used to be called the British Commonwealth is now called the Commonwealth of Nations, and consists of 54 independent states. The British monarch is the head of the Commonwealth. The monarch is also head of state in as many as 15 of these countries, including Canada and Australia. The British royal family is very popular in some of these countries. But several countries have chosen to remove the British monarch as their head of state. The latest was Barbados, which became a republic on November 30, 2021. Jamaica is considering the same. They want a head of state who is more like themselves. Historian Robert Lacey believes the Commonwealth of Nations will continue. But the British monarch believes that the head of countries such as Jamaica and Australia is threatened by the queen’s death. – It is a kind of historical relic that has lasted because people have had strong feelings and great respect for the queen. It probably won’t last forever. She modernized Britain Paul McCartney met Queen Elizabeth in 2012. Photo: CARL COURT / AFP Paul McCartney met Queen Elizabeth in 2012. Photo: CARL COURT / AFP He further points to the contradiction between Queen Elizabeth’s personal characteristics and what has happened during the seven decades she has sat on the throne. While she herself is quiet and conservative, her reign has, among other things, been characterized by modern and unconventional art forms. Lacey mentions the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Queen and Tracey Emin; expression which in many ways has been a rebellion against the queen herself. – This mildly old-fashioned woman has actually been the tool that has made Britain a modern country, he concludes. She made the monarchy more important When Britain hosted the UN climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, Queen Elizabeth canceled her planned stay at the conference. Instead, she sent a video greeting, which was broadcast on the big screen at Picadilly Circus in London. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP When Britain hosted the UN climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, Queen Elizabeth canceled her planned stay at the conference. Instead, she sent a video greeting, which was broadcast on the big screen at Picadilly Circus in London. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP One of the challenges for any monarchy is to be relevant without being controversial. Queen Elizabeth rarely expressed personal opinions in public. But she has allowed family members to get involved in important matters in the development of society. Her husband, Prince Philip, co-founded the World’s Wilderness Fund. The son and heir to the throne Charles has been fighting climate change for over 50 years. And even Queen Elizabeth herself managed to make her mark in a way that made people listen, even if she avoided controversy. – It is quite special that this lady, who had no real power, still managed to have great influence, Lacey believes. He exemplifies it with the video speech the queen gave in connection with the UN’s major climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. After all the top leaders in the world had given speeches, it was a queen dressed in organic green that grabbed the headlines. – She has remained neutral and done her duty in a world where duty seems old-fashioned. It has earned her respect, and therefore people listen to her. She has not only kept the monarchy alive, but made it more central than it has ever been. She raised Prince William Prince William and Queen Elizabeth together in Edinburgh in June 2021. Photo: POOL / Reuters Prince William and Queen Elizabeth together in Edinburgh in June 2021. Photo: POOL / Reuters One thing Robert Lacey believes has been little known is the central the role the Queen played towards her grandsons William and Harry when their mother, Diana, died. And especially towards William, who had just started boarding school right next to the Queen’s castle in Windsor. – In a way, she was a better parent to William than she was to her own children. According to Lacey, William was bullied at school because of the attention surrounding Diana. That’s when grandfather Prince Philip came up with the idea that he should come to Windsor Castle and have regular lunches with the Queen. She taught him how he will one day in the future fulfill the role of king. Robert Lacey is sure that when it eventually becomes William’s turn to take over the British throne, it will be modeled after his grandmother Elizabeth’s principle: – Never complain, never explain.
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