Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 70th throne anniversary. She kicked off the four-day celebrations in England at Thursday’s Trooping the Color parade. The German press praises the Queen for her “constancy and perseverance” in times of constant change.
“Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung”: “The queen did not always have a sense of what her people expected or wanted to hear from her. At times, considering her long silence after Diana’s death, there was a certain estrangement. In the end, the Queen was always forgiven. At the age of 96, she is considered by many to be a role model in terms of attitude and fulfillment of duty. Not being able to attend all of the program at her big party is a reminder that Elizabeth’s reign is not eternal. When it does, one day in the not too distant future, it will be an epochal and traumatic event for the British people. The Queen is a figure of integration in difficult times. It remains to be seen whether the monarchy still has a future after her. Yesterday, however, it looked very much like that.”
“The Glocke” (Oelde): “In an age of constant change, the longest-serving queen in British history impresses with her consistency and perseverance. The elderly woman fulfills representative duties with a discipline that even wrests respect from critics of the monarchy. The popularity of the petite lady with her perfectly coordinated dresses and hats is higher than ever. Unlike those of their descendants, whose Wars of the Roses and misconduct regularly make the front pages of the tabloids. For the anniversary, the country hides its crises. Brexit, the Scottish and Northern Irish striving for independence, the scandals of a Boris Johnson: Everything that rages around the island like a storm gives way to a collective celebration for a few days. The British suspect that they will often no longer see Her Majesty. The most photographed woman in the world, she is probably one last time in a flurry of flashbulbs.”
“The New Day” (Weiden): “You just have to like this indestructible little person. Of course, the 96-year-old certainly didn’t do everything right, her empathetic behavior after Lady Diana’s death is just one example. But the Queen survived everything, all family quarrels, including 13 prime ministers and one prime minister. It is not only the great constant in life in Great Britain. And when she stands and laughs on the balcony of her palace on the 70th anniversary of the throne, even the biggest royal critic will very softly sing “God Save the Queen”.
Süddeutsche Zeitung: “Today, a royal has to perform the balancing act of preserving the mystery of the crown and at the same time involving the people in his life. After all, the monarchies in Europe have long been institutions of the people’s grace, and parliament can abolish them at any time. Elizabeth II shines through discipline and discretion. “Never complain, never explain” is her motto. Never complain, never explain. That can no longer be a motto for monarchs today. Empathy and the willingness to admit mistakes are just as important as discipline. Be a little more human. That is the mission for the next generation.”
“Frankfurter Neue Presse”: “The Queen puts her life in the service of her office without complaint. An office that in Great Britain requires maximum restraint of one’s own opinion while at the same time being willing to be constantly represented in often rigid rituals – not an attractive job description by modern standards. It shows a fulfillment of duty that today’s generations with a desire for “work-life balance” can hardly understand. Even opponents of the monarchy must respect the fact that at the age of 96 she is still in office as long as her health allows. In Germany, too, many convinced democrats have adopted the charming queen in a small corner of their hearts as a loan queen.”
