God Bless the Queen, God Save the King

During my Army and Government Contractor Career, I have spent some time with British Soldiers and contractors. Their love for the Queen was always there, worn on their shoulders for all the world to see. I remember a few fights breaking out over perceived insults of the Queen.

One time early in my career, at an international leapfest for paratroopers, I made a light-hearted joke about the Queen and the American revolution. It didn’t go over very well, creating scowls and faces of disgust. Taken aside by a contemporary, it was explained to me the etiquette I had broken. We don’t joke about the Queen.

It was like talking bad about someone’s mother but much worse. Their love was always evident, especially during the queen’s birthday, celebrated around the world, which I’ve had the honor to participate in a couple times.

Since then, I developed a fascination with the Queen and the British Monarchy. A few years ago we visited England. I had made a mistake on our Airbnb reservation in Chelsea. Our flight arrived a day before we could get into our flat. So I made a reservation at a small hotel across the street from Windsor Castle to kill time. It was one of those situations where we were glad that it happened, getting to tour the castle the next day.

This morning I was watching the news with the queen's grandsons, William and Harry, with their wives greeting the crowd outside of Windsor Castle. For a second, I caught a glimpse of the window of the room that we stayed in. Thinking to myself about how ordinary the Royal family really is.

Even with all the scandals laid bare in the newspapers and petty family bickering, now grieving for a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. This is really what makes the monarchy special. The people of Great Britain and the Commonwealth nations see themself in the Royal Family. This intertwinement is what makes them British.