How the Queen has steered family and nation through 70 years

A constant presence across generations, Elizabeth II has always been able to chart a dignified path, says Sean O’Grady

Her Majesty’s dedication has assured the survival of the institution she represents (PA/Getty)

For seven decades, the British have been in a rather special relationship with the Queen. Like any partnership, it has had its ups and downs, bad times and good, the occasional rift. Not everyone has been enthusiastic about it, and some have wanted to end it long ago; yet others sleep outside overnight for a glimpse of her or for news of the birth of one of her direct descendants (25 and counting). Yet here we are, 70 years on, still together. How did it come to be?

It’s about much more than Elizabeth II being the head of state. That doesn’t necessarily make you beloved, even after 70 years.

Britons have had many unpopular, even despised, kings and queens in the long history of the monarchy; figures that were neither liked nor respected. In centuries past, a few couldn’t even speak English and would thus fail modern citizenship tests, yet were tolerated. Others were disliked for being idle, gluttonous, wasteful, traitorous, degenerate (by the mores of the times) and, ironically enough, undemocratic. One “went mad”, and had to be relieved of his duties, another lost his head, another abdicated before things got out of hand, another fled the country.