Great thanks to the
quirky and
queenly Mrs. Nesbitt who lives in a
quaint,
quality cottage in North Yorkshire. I had the honour of meeting her this past summer and she took me on a lovely walk in the countryside that surrounds her home. It was a
quiet walk only interrupted by the neighing of horses and the
quacking of the geese, ducks, and other water fowl that followed us for a short time along the path.
(wait for our Y week to see!)
Moving on, having just spent a long vacation in England,
Q just has to be for
Queen Elizabeth II. She has been my monarch for almost as long as I've been alive and I've had the privilege of seeing her in person as a small child and as an adult. She came to Vancouver as Princess Elizabeth when I was about 5 years old and my mother took my sisters and me down to Burrard Street to watch her go past. What an exciting event for a little girl! When my own daughters were young, the
Queen came to Vancouver again in 1983, and we went out to the University of British Columbia (my alma mater) to watch her arrival at the Museum of Archaeology. I remember she wore a lovely yellow outfit and a photograph of her in it was front page news that day. My mother arranged to purchase this photograph (framed) of her to present to daughter #1 (aged 7 that year) for Christmas. This one is from Mr. Google.
In 2010,
Queen Elizabeth came once more to Canada. This time, she unveiled a commemorative stained glass window and a bust which was installed in the Canadian Senate. And just recently, the
Queen unveiled another stained glass window in the Chapel of the Savoy in London to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.
It is inscribed with the words: "I declare before you that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service'. The Edinburgh-born artist, Douglas Hogg, was chosen by the Queen to design the window. He incorporated a seal that he discovered while researching the royal archives and her love of horses and dogs. The window shows the Queen on horseback with a corgi snapping at its heels along with her personal signature.
This year,
Queen Elizabeth celebrated 60 years on the throne - a Diamond Jubilee. I watched the entire celebration on TV and was very excited for her and for our country. Although it was a wickedly cold, rainy, and windy day in London, I think the parade on the Thames was spectacular. You can read an account of the day and see photos of her big day
here. And here is a short video about the parade on the Thames River that day.
30 comments:
Nice to see our Queen appear in bloggy land,she sure gets about for a dear old lady doesnt she.Love Jill xx
She is just so ... royal. - Margy
She really is something...and I love that stained glass window. Very cool.
Hail to the Queen! Her ascendancy and my birth were very close together...
How wonderful that you could see TWO Queens...Denise and your Monarch.
Very special memories.
She is a very courageous lady, like the other two European Queens, including our Queen Beatrix.
Your post is a great tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.
she is so regal in her bearing; really born into royalty.
A grand lady!
What a special post...You've been around, girl! That's teriffic!!
Ordinary Words...The interest level in the Royals has certainly risen this past year....thanks for sharing♫
I have an affection for her but I have to say that royalty as a whole has lost some of its shine for me, since the Diana and Camilla thing. It's not them, it's the fact that their advisers were so out of touch with their subjects. I think things are changing now and I think William and Harry are much better off for their exposure to real life. I am certainly pro-monarchy but they must keep up with the people if they want to continue the British culture.
Great post for Q. I enjoyed it.
I'm an American but I still think that your Queen is awesome and a great leader of her Kingdom.
I saw part of the boat thingy and was certain somebody would be ill before the week was over. It all looked so cold and windy! There were singers standing out in the rain on a boat!
Say Queen and one can first only think of this lady..
Ladies in hats!
Questions
Would you mind pitching an answer?
Long live the queen!
Que Sera Sera
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
What a lovely stained glass window, nice to see her trotting along on the horse.
Super! You asked me to stop by and I did. Lovely story and wonderful tribute to our Queen :).
that is certainly a unique stained glass window!
Great collection of photos and the window is spectacular. Very appropriate to feature Queen Elizabeth II where she always appears happiest - on horseback.
She has certainly remained a beloved Queen over those 60 years. thanks for your visit, I'm just getting used to this American Medicare--its all so different.
Ann
Oh! hail the Queen..
ABCW member
http://phinkymommyextension.blogspot.com/2012/11/qoutes-of-love.html
That was beautiful!
Long live the Queen! I almost saw her go past in Windsor a few years back but the cold drove me indoors.
The Queen didn't look very happy though on the river cruise!
That's a great stained glass window.
As an American, the whole monarchy thing is obviously foreign to me, but I still think your queen is pretty cool.
Loved your Queen post-especially the video clip (wow-I can't help but think about the security logistics involved in that flotilla)!
Great fun to read this post, Leslie. I was 4 when Princess Elizabeth came to Montreal in 1951. I remember my mother's excitement as we drove from our small town to Montreal where we met up with an aunt and stood with the crowds on St. Catherine Street to see her. I love the photograph of that beautiful window with the queen on horseback. And, as someone else said, how wonderful that you met TWO queens!
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