© bbc.co.uk
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
1926 – 2022
Today is a day I’ve anticipated for some time but it has still come as something of a shock. Across the world there has been a shared sense of deep loss as news broke this evening that Queen Elizabeth II died this afternoon at Balmoral.
This nation now collectively mourns the loss of our monarch; someone who was the very embodiment of all that a servant queen should be. For many of us she has been the face of the crown all our lives.
Having ascended to the throne aged 25, she reigned over Great Britain and the Commonwealth for 70 years.
‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.’
— The then Princess Elizabeth, on her twenty-first birthday, in a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town.
In that time she had welcomed and given counsel to 15 Prime Ministers – from Winston Churchill to (just 2 days ago) Liz Truss. Throughout the years she has been for me the very picture of servant leadership.
The Queen, in one of her last photographs, waiting in the Drawing Room at Balmoral to greet Liz Truss on Tuesday CREDIT: JANE BARLOW/POOL PHOTO VIA AP, FILE
Last year I was privileged to preach on the sixth chapter of Isaiah at our church here in Buckingham, and as I did so I pondered the question of what life would be like should the queen die. The reason for that was that in the passage the relative stability of the prophet’s own country had collapsed with the death of their King – Uzziah – who had reigned over Judah for 52 years. In that moment of uncertainty, Isaiah is transported into the throne room of the holy God. There he is reminded that he need not fear because this world has a King who is above all kings; a King who will never die and whose reign will never end.
It is into the presence of this same God that Elizabeth has today been welcomed. For much of her life she has given testimony of her own faith in Jesus Christ:
“For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.”
— The Queen’s Christmas Day broadcast, 2014
She is an adopted child of the King of kings. She has served him throughout her reign and she will continue to do so for eternity.
Now her son, King Charles III, will bear the crown. My prayer is that he will lead this nation as his mother before him: with humility before God and with a servant heart towards his people. I don’t know whether Charles trusts in Christ for his own salvation so I will continue to pray that God would truly save the king.