Today marks a significant milestone in the life of a woman who has been a constant in the lives of nearly everyone in the world. Queen Elizabeth becomes the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee — 70 years on the throne. As Americans, she’s not our queen, but in a sense, Elizabeth II transcends national borders. She is the world’s queen, whose example these seven decades is matchless, and whose value in our turbulent times is more evident than ever.
Over the course of her reign, Queen Elizabeth has had a particularly singular relationship with the United States, having hosted and received hospitality from every U.S. president with the exception of Lyndon Johnson. Her first stateside visit occurred in 1951, before she became queen, when Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were guests at the White House of President Truman. Biden is the 13th president to have met the queen.
Naturally, she has had different chemistry with each president, and while discretion prevented it from ever being stated, it is widely believed that Ronald Reagan was her favorite. Her admiration led to his receiving an honorary knighthood in 1989. George H.W. Bush was the only other presidential knighthood recipient during her reign.
For U.S. presidents, like all world leaders, meeting the queen is perhaps the most sought-after of diplomatic receptions. Certainly this is no accident. Having met the queen in 2007 during her state visit to Washington, when I advised Congress on U.S.-U.K. affairs, I can attest that meeting her was a memorable encounter. Considering all the nations that have rolled out the red carpet for her, the queen is clearly a coveted visitor.
This is so not merely because of her unique position and title, but also because of Elizabeth’s personal qualities that cause many to hold her in esteem. During her years on the throne, she has consistently championed the best human virtues: faith in God, love of country, love of animals, commitment to duty. It would be difficult to find a finer living example of humanity than this British monarch.
