"Grief is the price we pay for Love" ~ Queen Elizabeth II & our National Geographic Society

[Scott T. Shier]

Greetings to my Collector's Corner family . . . 

"This royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands.

                                                                              This blessed plot . . . 

                                                                                                    this earth . . . 

                                                                                                               this realm . . .

                                                               . . . this England."

                                                                                       ~ Richard II, William Shakespeare (c. 1595)

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Rest in Peace, 

H.M. Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, II

1926 ~ 2022

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Her Majesty the Queen crossed paths with the National Geographic Society through its work, Magazine, and books and documentaries numerous times over the many, many decades. Prince Phillip even wrote articles* for NGM.

[ *SEE:  November 1957 ; November 1962 issues of NGM ]

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne upon her father, King George VI's death in February 1952. Her coronation was held in June 1953. NGM presented this with an extensive article in the September 1953 issue. 

Of note:  As presented in the December 1957 issue of NGM, President Dwight Eisenhower bestowed upon HRH Prince Phillip the special National Geographic Society Gold Medal, awarded in recognition of the Prince's " . . . practical and concrete contributions and encouragement of science and knowledge within Great Britain and around the world, and to better understanding between the English-speaking peoples . . . "

In 1966, the Society released the book "THIS ENGLAND". It's a charming & lovely tour of our old mother country. To say it is a time capsule of a now by-gone era, is an understatement. 'Ye Merrie Olde England' indeed!

and also ---->

In the May 2006 issue of NGM, the editor's shared an image & caption in the 'Flashback' department feature on the last page, titled "Climb to Power". It shows little Charles climbing up a wall to a window, with Elizabeth inside, perhaps ready to assist. 

In Her Majesty's Service :

Sir Winston Churchill was twice Prime Minister, once for King George VI, then a hiatus, and back again under QE II (he was her first PM). 

Due to his extraordinary contributions to the United Kingdom, Europe, and the world during WW-2, Winston Churchill was the only British Prime Minister ever granted a full state funeral, at Her Majesty's insistence. 

FYI:  HM Elizabeth reigned across 15 Prime Ministers.

~

Queen Elizabeth II was interred for her final rest this morning at Windsor Castle, in St. George's Chapel. She is now reunited with her beloved mother, the Queen Mother, and father King George VI, her sister Princess Margaret, and husband Prince Phillip Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh.

 ---> Windsor Castle, as seen on the cover of NGM's November 1980 issue:

~  

Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne before most people currently alive on this, our planet Earth, were born. In so many ways, she was Queen, mother, grandmother, and eternal example of dignity & heritage for us all. She was a link to a thousand-plus years of history, both good and bad, grand, tumultuous, joyous, tragic, courageous and eventful.

Victory in Europe day, May 1945 - the balcony at Buckingham Palace . . . their "finest hour" --->

In some of America's darkest hours, Queen Elizabeth II demonstrated her sincere friendship and deep caring for this nation. She extended an astounding honor & courtesy in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the USA, the Queen held a national service at Westminster Abbey and was visibly moved. She broke with strict protocol and had our "Star Spangled Banner" anthem played, to which she was seen mouthing the words (Note: she never sang the words to her own anthem, in public, during her 70 years as sovereign). 

FYI:  Queen Elizabeth's reign spanned across 14 U.S. Presidents.

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This is a significant milestone with her passing, in world history, regardless of anyone's personal philosophy about monarchy. To most, she was the monarchy - there is no distinction between the two. Many of her subjects around Great Britain and the United Kingdom & the Commonwealth nations felt more kinship with. and loyalty to her, than they do in-general to the monarchy or British government per se. The People respected her . . . they needed her . . . they wanted her.

What does the future hold for our brethren 'across the pond' now, without her? Only time will tell. In good times and bad, she was known to say "well, things do happen in life, and we need to just get on with it". 

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

- - Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour (speech, 1940)

Such has passed the Second Elizabethan Era. And now, she belongs to the ages. 

Yours,

            - - Scott 

~ Long Live The Queen ~ 

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Here are the links to current coverage by National Geographic (online):

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/search?q=queen%20elizabeth%20II&...

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article...

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/monarchy/facts-about...

and, the latest "special collector's edition" just out on newsstands:

For more articles SEE the following NGM issues:

• April 1949  ~  "The British Way"
• May 1953  ~  "Silkworms in England Spin for the Queen"
• September 1956  ~  "Progress and Pageantry in Changing Nigeria"
• June 1959  ~  "Queen of Canada"
• November 1961  ~  "Queen Elizabeth Opens Parliament"
• November 1969  ~  "The Investiture of Great Britain's Prince of Wales"
• May 1971  ~  "Britain's 'French' Channel Islands"
• December 1986  ~  "Westminster: The Palace that Became Parliament"
• October 2005  ~  "She's Right on the Money"  - [ 'Geographica' department ]

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Also, a 2020 film program titled "Being the Queen" presented on NatGeoTV (online), the National Geographic Channel, and available on Disney+

                                                             original airdate: 8/31/2020

direct links here ---->

https://www.natgeotv.com/za/shows/natgeo/being-the-queen 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/movies-and-specials/being-the... 

https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/being-the-queen/2Bl2YLx3qZlk

[George Thomas Wilson]

Well done, Scott!!!

[Scott T. Shier]

I thank you, Tom.

[george warren]

That's a fantastic effort Scott!

Many thanks!

[Scott T. Shier]

George, 

Thanks for the positive & enthusiastic feedback. Not to diminish Tom's comment above, yet I wanted to say that coming as it does from a citizen of the U.K., I especially appreciate your comment.