The world has mourned the passing of Queen Elizabeth II since her death on September 8^th. Her funeral, on Monday, September 19^th, which was planned by the Monarch herself, was watched by many people worldwide. Never has a world leader been so revered. The adoration for ninety-six-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, which was present for many years, reached an all-time high with her passing. Many accolades have been written and spoken about the Queen. My favorite is these words used to describe her: Dignity, Grace, and Faithful Service.   

While I do not really understand how the Monarchy continues to be an important part of British society in the modern world, they undoubtedly do. How this family can still be financially supported to the degree they are is amazing to me. In spite of their ups and downs, the support for the Monarchy continues. I recognize, of course, the tourist attraction of the royalty, and understand that attraction. But this tourist attraction continues at a significant financial cost to the British economy. Even so, this fact in no way diminishes the attraction. Of all the royals, the Queen has been revered. Perhaps this has something to do with the Queen’s behavior. For many years, and through several major crises, her behavior has been steadfast. Perhaps the adoration for the Queen, and consequently for the monarchy,  can be explained by this fact. Queen Elizabeth II led the monarchy and her family with Dignity, Grace, and Faithful Service.

Dignity is defined by Oxford Languages as “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.” The description of Dignity continues to include “being valued and respected for what you are, what you believe in, and how you live your life.”

Oxford languages describes Grace as: “simple elegance or refinement of movement, and courteous goodwill.” The definition continues by stating “Grace is not about perfection, and that you give yourself space to be flexible with your perceived reality with acceptance and kindness.” Queen Elizabeth II certainly had opportunities for displaying Grace in recent years considering the behavior of some of her family displayed on the world stage.

The Reverso Dictionary describes Faithful Service as “remaining true, constant, or loyal.” The definition continues to include, “consistently reliable, truthful, and accurate in detail.” The word Service is described as: “an act of helpful activity.”

Considering these definitions, Queen Elizabeth II epitomized Dignity, Grace, and Faithful Service. It remains to be seen if King Charles and other royals will continue her legacy.

While it is interesting to consider Dignity, Grace, and Faithful Service regarding Queen Elizabeth II, it might be more instructive to consider if these same words would be used by others to describe us. If not, where is the gap?

It may be time to “Mind the Gap.”