Brexit: Remembering the Queen Mother in Times of Uncertainty in Britain

Anyone who is a close follower of British politics knows that it would be an understatement to say that the United Kingdom is staring boldly in the face of instability and disunity due to the handling of Brexit negotiations. Parliament has squandered nearly all of their time since the 2016 referendum when the British people voted to leave the European Union. Instead of working in a unified matter to find a solution, which would allow Britain to exit on good terms with the EU and maintain stability in Britain.

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has been held hostage by MPs from all across the House of Commons (including members of her own party), as well as the European Union itself. May has worked tirelessly to navigate Britain through the troubled waters that were left to her when her predecessor David Cameron decided to run away when things got too real to handle; since then she has received nothing but unfair flack and pushback for doing the right thing—trying to deliver on the promise made to the British people when they voted to leave the EU.

So now we arrive on the date, on which Britain originally was to officially leave the European Union—and not only do we have no deal, but we have no idea what comes next as parliament still cannot find a majority vote on any of the options for how to move forward. So what does Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, have to do with this?

The United Kingdom is fortunate to have such an institution as a constitutional monarchy. As a passionate monarchist myself, I cannot stress enough the importance of the monarchy and its important functions which will help the British people during this time of great uncertainty. The monarch and the Royal Family remain constant while politicians come and go, and when all else fails, the British people can always look up to their monarch for comfort and reassurance while the foundations of British society fall apart all around us.

On March 30, 2019, we will mark the 17th anniversary since the passing of the Queen Mother. People of all backgrounds, from all generations and places in the UK, will come together to remember her and reflect upon the impacts she has made on the UK. The young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon would eventually marry the Albert (Bertie) Windsor, the Duke of York who would himself become King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland when his older brother David (King Edward VIII) abdicated the throne. Elizabeth would be the driving force behind King George VI and be his steadfast support during the difficult trial he would face as King. So too will she serve as a reminder of what the monarchy means to us and how we can depend on the royals to hold a torch to illuminate this dark path of uncertainty we are barrelling down with great speed.

During the reign of her husband as king, the Queen Mother would continuously insist on being a source of strength, not only for her family, but for the people of Britain. She was a force of nature, one of the reckoned with. It is said that Adolf Hitler himself referred to her as “one of the most terrifying women in Europe.” The Queen Mother inspired the people during World War II by insisting that they stay in the public eye and serve as a reminder to the people that they haven’t been abandoned. While many other royals were sent away to safe areas like the heavily fortified Windsor Castle, where the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were sent, the Queen Mother insisted that she and the King would remain at Buckingham Palace during the German bombing of London. The King and Queen would emerge from the rubbles of the Palace to show the world that they were staying strong in the face of those trying times and, therefore, inspiring the people of Britain to do the same.

The Queen Mother will once again be an example of the monarchy’s ability to unite the people, this Saturday, on the anniversary of her death. This will also be an opportunity for Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II to make a show of solidarity with the British people, as she is the physical embodiment of the nation. It is now more important than ever for the Queen to be visible to her people. She must emerge from the rubbles of the British government and show her people that she will be there for them no matter what. Whether you voted to leave or to stay, people and politicians from both sides show that they believe in their sovereign and reaffirm their allegiance to her. As people march on the streets of London and protest outside of the Houses of Parliament, no matter what flag is belong flown to make a statement of supporting leave or stay, you can be quite sure that on both sides you will find the Royal Standard flag (representing the Queen and the Royal house) as well.

No matter what happens, no matter how much trust the British people may lose in the government, Her Majesty the Queen will be a beacon of hope and a reminder that Britain will remain, Britain! God bless Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and God Save the Queen Elizabeth II!