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Friday September 16th, 2022
September is always a time of change. A new school year and a new quality in the light and colours that brighten the shortening autumn days in the UK. All that change can make it a challenging, emotional month too. None more so than this September, where we welcomed a new Prime Minister just two days before we all heard the very sad news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This issue is a short tribute to The Queen’s life and her 70-year reign, as we explore the respect and admiration she earnt worldwide over seven decades of royal duties and loyal service.
Born on 21st April 1926 in Mayfair, London, the first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York, Elizabeth did not seem destined for the crown. Her uncle and her father were both in line for the throne before her, and any younger brother or cousin would also have taken precedence.
Four years and four months later, a little sister, Margaret, was born at Glamis Castle in Scotland. Just six years later, the sisters’ uncle Edward VIII was crowned king, following the death of their grandfather, George V. Edward reigned for just under a year, abdicating at the end of 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth’s father succeeded him as George VI and suddenly Elizabeth was heir presumptive, aged 10.
Sisters Elizabeth and Margaret received private tuition at home, the last members of the royal family to be educated at home by a governess and tutors. The curriculum for the aged-seven Elizabeth was, by today’s standards, limited to say the least. Reading, writing, French, piano and dancing are listed among her lessons. When her father became King, constitutional history and law were added to her ‘syllabus’, along with lessons on religion from the Archbishop of Canterbury, to prepare her for her future role as monarch.
While the Queen Mother (as she became) oversaw the girls’ education, it was their governess of 17 years, Marion Crawford, who supervised their learning day to day. And among the princesses’ tutors was Henry Marten, vice provost of Eton College.
In the first half of the 1930s, when Edward was expected to become king and Elizabeth was only third in line to the throne, daily life was routine and quiet for the sisters. They had little contact with the outside world. That all changed when their father unexpectedly acceded to the throne upon his brother’s abdication.
The fondly named ‘Crawfie’ moved with the family to Buckingham Palace, and now her duties shifted to helping train her charges for their royal roles. Alongside this, she strove to give them an insight into ‘normal’ life, arranging expeditions outside the palace, forming a Girl Guide troop for royals, and taking them shopping in stores such as Woolworths. In retrospect, that combination of experiences prepared the future Queen for the role she undertook with such diligence, dignity and humility. For despite her position of power and influence, it was ultimately her calm resolve, quiet resilience and unwavering consistency that earnt her the world’s respect, admiration and trust.
The future queen gave her first public address alongside her little sister Margaret, from the drawing room of Windsor Castle. Aged 14 and 10, the princesses showed solidarity with the millions of children who left their city homes for the relative safety of small towns and the countryside during World War II. Although their parents famously stayed put in Buckingham Palace, despite a direct hit during a bombing raid, the royal sisters were sent to stay in Windsor Castle, 20 miles or so outside London. Their broadcast was part of the BBC’s Children’s Hour and Elizabeth spoke directly to the children who, like her and her sister, had been separated from their families as part of the evacuation scheme.
Here’s an extract from that broadcast:
“Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you, as we know from experience what it means to be away from those you love most of all. To you living in new surroundings, we send a message of true sympathy and at the same time we would like to thank the kind people who have welcomed you to their homes in the country.”
Of course, Elizabeth, as heir presumptive and as Queen, would have had speech writers and a team poised to pre-empt and support her every move and message. But in that first public address, there’s the same capacity for empathy that Elizabeth II showed again and again in speeches throughout her long life and reign.
From football fans who fell silent in UK stadiums as news of her death spread last Thursday, to the mountains of floral tributes in cities across the country (you can see some of the glorious tributes here: https://londonist.com/london/latest-news/green-park-flowers-queen-elizabeth-ii), to world leaders’ heartfelt messages of condolence, you can feel the deep-rooted respect, admiration and fondness for Queen Elizabeth II. As mourners in London joined a four-mile queue to file past her coffin and pay their respects a week after her passing, the new Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall (both titles now held by William) showed a similar sense of down-to-earth openness and empathy. As one emotional mourner told the new prince she was close to tears, he replied
“Don’t cry now – you’ll start me.”
Now the new school year is underway, it’s a good time to plan ahead for the Easter and even summer breaks.
The acronym ‘ACE’ is for academic ability, competitive spirit and energy to succeed. If your child has these qualities – or you’d like them to work on developing them – this could be the perfect two-week learning experience this Easter.
The ACE programme is a competition for 12 to 17 year olds, where teams of mixed cultures and mindsets pit their wits against one another, researching, discussing and debating a topic, creating actions plans and delivering presentations, then producing a promotional video supported by a final pitch. Topics are chosen from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identified as key focus areas for securing a better shared future together as ‘Global Citizens’.
As well as the hard work, there’s plenty of time to unwind too, with a disco, fashion show, murder mystery event, Easter egg hunt, and trips to famous historical and cultural cities and landmarks. You can choose from two beautiful venues, both steeped in educational history: Rugby School and Cheltenham College.
Contact us to find out more and make a booking.
Our partners MLA (Move Language Ahead) have a 45-year history of offering residential language courses to suit all levels of English, with one- to three-week programmes for children aged 8 to 17 in the British Isles, Italy and north America. Choose from UK university venues in London, Dover, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Midlands and Yorkshire, Italian hotels in Umbria or Tuscany, or colleges and universities across the USA and Canada. You can even book a one-week ‘college on a cruise ship’ experience!
Packages include 20 lessons per week (15 hours), an MLA TASKtime eBook to use and take home, plus discos, Karaoke, sports days and excursions each week.
Get in touch to explore more and book a stay.
Until next time…
“ Regency Education helped all three of our boys get into a wonderful school where they now thrive. ”
“ REGENCY EDUCATION WAS ABLE TO HELP US WITH EVERY STEP OF THE SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS ENSURING THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF OUR CHILDREN. AN INVALUABLE SERVICE. ”
“ REGENCY EDUCATION WAS ABLE TO HELP US WITH EVERY STEP OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS ENSURING THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF OUR CHILDREN - AN INVALUABLE SERVICE. ”
