Politics: That sense of “knowing” her was palpable- because she’s always been there
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On Thursday at First Minister’s Questions it became apparent that something was happening. Parliament officials were beckoned over whilst party leaders seemed to receive a message on their phones.
Minutes later our Presiding Officer confirmed what that something was- the Queen was extremely ill and members of the Royal Family were being summoned to be with her.
We all knew what this meant, and it will be one of those moments in all our lives where we remember how, when and where we heard the news.
Whether you are a republican or royalist, this news couldn’t fail to produce a million images in your head of a woman most of us have “known” all our lives.
When people say the phrase “we will never know their like again”, it is particularly accurate when it comes to Queen Elizabeth.
A woman who has been a head of state longer than any other, who has seen 15 UK Prime Ministers come and go, has seen every crisis since the Second World War in which she herself served, who is part of the fabric of not just the UK’s but the World’s social history for over seventy years.
Unlike so many other members of the Royal Family she kept her counsel and never gave interviews.
In this world of constant commentary and 24 hour coverage of everyone in the public eye, this was remarkable.
And for me, totally admirable.
I am struck as I write this today, the day after her passing, of the tributes that many of those who had one to one private conversations with her- particularly current and former world leaders- talk of how valuable her advice and knowledge was, and how much they gained from conversations with her.
After all- she really had seen everything.
Our own First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has said many times how much she enjoyed her time with her.
For me the first image that came into my mind on hearing of her illness that day in parliament last week, was the first time I ever saw her in real life.
I never met her, but I was in a crowd trying to get a glimpse of her when I was taken by family friends to see her be taken through the streets in a parade for her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
I am sure that many of you reading this will have a memory like this; a fleeting glimpse, a possible brief encounter as she visited your school, or where you worked.
That sense of “knowing” her was palpable- because she’s always been there.
I lost my last remaining grandparent last year who incidentally was the same age as Queen Elizabeth, so my over-riding emotion is deep sympathy for those who she was Mum, Gran, and Great Gran.
They really DID know her.
And I hope they keep this thought in their minds, as we all must when we lose someone; that grief is the price we pay for love.
My thoughts are with them.
