Majesty, Open Window on an Island History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Today Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 is ninety years-old, the longest serving monarch in British history. Here’s wishing Her Majesty a very Happy Birthday.

(Photo taken from the Internet)

There will be tributes paid across the world far greater than mine, but I could not let the occasion pass without marking it on the blog.

(Photo taken from the Internet)

Her Majesty at 90 and three kings-in-waiting,

(Photo taken from the Internet)

This poem is a villanelle.

MAJESTY, OPEN WINDOW ON AN ISLAND HISTORY

Sixty-four years on the throne,

dedicated to serving her country

a much loved, respected queen

A sunny smile for any occasion

marking milestones of pageantry,

sixty-four years on the throne

Classless greetings for everyone

unfazed by royalty, icon of dignity,

a much loved, respected queen

Her innermost thoughts unknown

to those she serves daily, faithfully,

sixty-four years on the throne

Horse riding, a life-time passion,

imaging a very human personality,

a much-loved, respected queen

No abuse of wealth of position

through years of political history;

sixty-four years on the throne,

a much loved, respected queen

Copyright R. N. Taber 2016

Fruit of the Acorn, Children of the Oak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Update (July 22 2016): Today is Prince William's 3rd birthday. (See the last photo below.)

Meanwhile...

Whatever their feelings about the monarchy, only a killjoy would not wish HRH Prince William, Catherine and family happiness.

The formative years for any child are so important, the greater influence on these being the home environment. As privileged or poor as that environment may be, the child growing up among those who love and care for him or her, while respecting his or her right to develop as an individual, will always have the greater chance of discovering and tasting the sweeter fruits of life. Let’s face it. Few of us will never get to taste its sourer fruits.

Royal children don't have easy lives. Constantly in the public eye they have to learn to juggle private and public pleasures and responsibilities. (I, for one, would hate that.)

As for the common accusations regarding wealth and privilege, every child deserves the best life has to offer. Given that we all want and/or expect different things from life, I suspect more of us achieve this than first glances often suggest.  It is never a good idea (or fair) to make comparisons.

HRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George as a baby (Internet)

[Update May 2nd 2015: The Duchess of Cambridge has gone into labour with her second child this morning, and was admitted to St Mary's Hospital, London, at 6:00 am. + It's a girl! Born just after 8:30am.] (RT)

Photo of Prince George and proud dad released just prior to his 2nd birthday (Internet)

 HRH Duke of and Duchess of Cambridge with new baby daughter, Charlotte (Internet)

HRH Prince George and Princess Charlotte, 2015; photo taken by their mother. (Internet)

Family photo, Christmas 2015 [Internet]

Prince George at 3 years-old (July 22 2016)

FRUIT OF THE ACORN, CHILD OF THE OAK
        (written at the birth of Prince George)

Fair of face and born to be king,

(world’s cue for love and peace)

in a millennium, itself, a seedling

On him, nature’s every blessing,

to loved ones, a rare happiness;

fair of face and born to be king

For him, let nations unite to sing

(a fine lyric for love and peace)

in a millennium, itself, a seedling

No matter what time’s tides bring,

may his be a spirit of openness;

fair of face and born to be king

For a long, happy, life bells ring,

lifting hearts to love and peace

in a millennium, itself, a seedling

Come a private or public viewing,

may his heart beat true, at ease;  

fair of face, and born to be king

in a millennium, itself, a seedling

[London: July, 2013]

Copyright R. N. Taber 2013

[Note: For the benefit of anyone unfamiliar with it,  'Fair of face' is from the old rhyme, 'Monday's child is fair of face...']

Canaletto Revisited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

1,000 boats, several orchestras and chamber music, Royal barges the like of which hadn’t been seen for 200 years...

The seven mile long Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant that took place yesterday (June 3, 2012) was inspired by Canaletto’s paintings of the arrival of Catherine of Braganza to marry Charles II in 1662, when 1,000 boats took to the river to welcome here. (See below)

While no poem can do the occasion justice, but I wanted to record the event in a villanelle to include in what will probably be my final collection in 2015 when I will be 70.

CANALETTO REVISITED

On a river that flows through a city,

hear bells ring out nationwide;

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

All is colour, cheers and pageantry

even politics briefly put aside

on a river that flows through a city

Sure respite from global austerity,

transcending multicultural divide;

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

Echoes of a land of Hope and Glory

taking war and peace in its stride

on a river that flows through a city

Regard and affection for monarchy,

in Commonwealth taking pride;

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

A godly queen, woman extraordinary,

true rock of a man at her side...

On a river that flows through a city,

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

Copyright R. N. Taber 2012

Alma Mater OR Matriarch Extraordinaire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

June 9th is Her Majesty The Queen's official birthday.

(see also : https://rogertab.blogspot.com/2016/04/majesty-evergreen.html

[Update Feb 6th 2019: it is 67 years to the day when her Majesty became Queen upon the death of her father, George V1 on Feb 6th 1952; she was crowned the following year.]

[Update January 14th 2018]: 2018 (June 2nd ) will see the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11's coronation when thousands lined the streets to watch her travel to Westminster Abbey in the gold coach (Yes, real gold!) She had, of course, ascended to the throne in 1957 following the death of her father King George V1 in February the previous year.

(Photo taken from the Internet)

[Update November 20th 2017]:Today marks the 70th wedding anniversary of Her Majesty, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. I feel sure that hearts across the world will join mine in reaching out to them with love, respect and many congratulations.]

[Update, June 17th 2017]: Today marks Her Majesty's official birthday albeit a low key affair this year in the wake of the terrible tower block fire in North Kensington only days ago. It was very encouraging to see our Queen and Prince William visit the scene of the fire that consumed an entire block with horrific speed and has left many people dead and scores homeless. They spoke with and offered heartfelt words of comfort to survivors, emergency services, and those still seeking news of loved ones feared dead. I spoke to someone who was there and she told me that everyone appreciated Her Majesty making the effort to show she cared, demonstrating a willingness to share something of their trauma. Actions, after all, speak louder than rhetoric...of which there is plenty flying around in various socio-cultural-political arenas these days.] RT

King George VI died in February 1952; and as is the custom, his firstborn child succeeded to the throne. Princess Elizabeth was just 26 years old and married to Prince Philip. They had been blessed with two children by then, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.  So her long reign began. The date of her coronation was June 2, 1953 (it took that long to prepare.)


Update (June 11th 2016): Today marks Her Majesty the Queen’s official 90th birthday; for other (British) royalty related posts/poems, see:

http://rogertab.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/majesty-evergreen.html

http://rogertab.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/a-poem-for-baby-hrh-prince-george-of.html

http://rogertab.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/death-of-princess.html 

Portrait of the Queen and Prince Philip taken by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. Copied from the Internet)

Diamond Jubilee, 2012 (original post):

Yesterday, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II addressed both Houses of Parliament here in London to mark her Diamond Jubilee just as she did during her Silver and Golden Jubilee years. She has already begun touring the UK; no mean feat at the age of 85 years nor for Prince Philip who is 90.

Now, as anyone who knows me is aware, I am no die-hard royalist, but one by default as I hate the idea of the UK becoming a a republic. However, I have always been a great admirer of Her Majesty The Queen. In this, her Diamond Jubilee year, it seems appropriate to repeat this poem that first appeared on the blog in 2010 and subsequently in my collection that same year.

Photo: from the Internet

ALMA MATER or MATRIARCH EXTRAORDINAIRE

Epitome of majesty,

walk-about among us she goes,

smiling thoughtfully

She sees what she will see

though just what, no one knows;

epitome of majesty

Watching over a family,

keeping politicians on their toes,

smiling thoughtfully

Mindful of a public duty,

regardless of any stones it throws;

epitome of majesty

Heard said, admiringly,

of private selves to some she shows,

smiling thoughtfully

Alma Mater to set us free

if but briefly from the world’s woes;

epitome of majesty,

smiling thoughtfully

[From: On The Battlefields Of Love by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2010]

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