The heavens opened, the torrential rain fell, the flag lowered to half-mast with a rainbow behind at Windsor Castle. People gathered outside the palace and sang the anthem in tears.
The Queen had died. God save the King.
It was the end of an era, the second Elizabethan era, her Platinum Jubilee. Britain, now with a new Prime Minister and a new monarch, have seen the gates of great change opened.
For many, Her Majesty had been with us all our lives, crowned in the year I was born—forever there, forever faithful. Defender of the faith—the Queen was the very pillar of our establishment who loved the Lord. Her faith and love of scripture was an inspiration to all.
With the early death of her beloved father, she became Queen at the age of 25 and vowed to serve all her life. Her husband, Prince Philip, who passed last year, accompanied the Queen around her Commonwealth and was revered across the world.
The Mother to the nation and her four children, she was saddened to see the Annus Horiblis of 1992, when two sons divorced and Windsor Castle burned. Queen Elizabeth was always there when we needed her most and her annual Christmas Message brought great warmth to the season.
As Commander-in-Chief and monarch, she graced Remembrance Day each year. The loss of Diana and the stripping of the Royal duties of her favorite son, Andrew. The departure of her grandson, Harry, and the loss of Philip saddened her latter days.
Yet tonight, the Queen is with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in His arms and in peace. Queen Elizabeth famously said:
“Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.”
Martin Clarke is a Christian businessman in England.
