On 8 September, barely two days after inviting Liz Truss to form the next government in the UK, Queen Elizabeth II breathed her last. She had been monarch for over seven decades; became Queen in 1952 on the sudden and unexpected demise of her father. During the seventy years of her service to the British people, she remained a reassuring figure of balance, stability and solace to the people of her country.
During my stay in the UK, one phrase that I always heard about the Queen was an appreciation for her commitment, service and sense of duty. She was universally admired for her strength. Despite living under intense public scrutiny for her entire adult life, especially the seventy years as monarch, no finger of scandal could be raised at her. She lived through war and times of turbulence. She saw the UK become a part of the European Union and Brexit from it. To most people in the UK, she was the only head of state they knew.
When I reached London, I was told that I could function normally once I had shared a copy of my credential papers with the foreign office protocol. This was different from other posts where I had served. Generally, an ambassador starts functioning officially vis-a-vis the host government only after presenting the credentials to the head of state. Until that is done, the ambassador is considered an ambassador-designate. He/she remains in what diplomats call ‘purdah’, and does not attend official diplomatic functions.
In the UK, I was given to understand that the Queen preferred to have the credentials done in style and that she liked to spend time with each Ambassador. This meant that credential ceremonies could sometimes take months of waiting. Within less than a month of reaching London, my husband and I received invitations for the Christmas dinner hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. In a complete change from what I had seen elsewhere as a professional diplomat, there we were at Buckingham Palace, shaking hands with the Queen and accompanying members of the Royal family, without having presented credentials to her.
It was at this dinner that I understood why the people of the UK repeatedly referred to the Queen’s service and sense of duty. Given that it was Christmas, the guest list must have consisted of several hundred people, if not more. Even the ambassadors were in different halls (I think there were five or more halls filled with guests). The deputies and senior representatives at diplomatic missions and another set of guests were invited ahead. Despite the large number of guests, the Queen and her entourage shook hands with each ambassador and spouse and had a word or two with them. My feet started aching as we waited, and hiding behind the folds of my sari, I quietly took off my shoes once she had passed me by. But the Queen looked radiant, smiling cheerfully at every meeting as she went around shaking hands and talking to people. I found the same energy and commitment in her at the annual garden party at Buckingham Palace.
I presented my credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in March 2019. There is a lot of pageantry involved in the credentials ceremony in the UK. A horse carriage comes from the Palace to take the ambassador and spouse to Buckingham Palace for the meeting with the Queen. The head of protocol comes in the ceremonial uniform to accompany the ambassador. Another carriage takes the officials accompanying the ambassador. They proceed in a majestic procession as they move to Buckingham Palace. People, mostly tourists, are invariably around and often wave to the procession, perhaps wondering about the people travelling in the carriages!
Members of the Commonwealth, except the realm countries, receive special treatment. (Realm countries in the Commonwealth are the 15 sovereign states who share the monarch and head of state.) A four-horse carriage is sent for High Commissioners whilst a two-horse carriage brings Ambassadors. This was one of the little ways that the Queen showed her commitment to the Commonwealth.
True to what I had heard, the Queen was relaxed and unhurried during the ceremony. It is a practice in many countries for the ambassador to carry a gift for the head of state for the credentials ceremony. The gift is sent in advance. In the UK, such a practice is not strictly followed. I was told that gifts are not expected.
Nevertheless, in keeping with the Indian tradition, I had brought a soft green stole for the Queen. To my delight, she moved to the gift after our interaction, appreciated it and commented on its warmth and softness. That gesture showed her unfailing courtesy.
PM Modi extended deep condolences on behalf of the people of India to the Royal family and the people of the UK over the demise of Queen Elizabeth in a call with UK Premier, Liz Truss. The international media has been filled with reports about the reign of the late Queen and the sense of bereavement felt by people around the globe. There have also been reports from some parts of the world, where memories of the atrocities during the British colonial rule remain fresh, including the torture and killing of Mau Mau freedom fighters in Kenya or the British support of the apartheid regime in South Africa.
India became independent before Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne, but to the people of India, the lack of an apology or at least an expression of regret or sympathy for the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, was a glaring omission during her visit to the monument in 1997; she described it as a 'distressing example' of the 'difficult episodes in our past' in her banquet speech a day earlier.
In her passing, Britain has lost its longest-serving monarch. May she rest in peace.
