Queen Elizabeth II, who died a year ago today, has left an unfillable void – not least for the many Americans like myself who so deeply admired Her Majesty. Though the United States rejected monarchy in 1776, Queen Elizabeth was to many of us a living reminder of the noble, just, and humane principles central to our inheritance from our mother country.
Throughout her reign, the Queen played a significant role in enhancing the US-UK relationship. She maintained close relations between the two countries and was a robust ally to the United States. The Queen met every sitting US president during her reign, except Lyndon Johnson. Her capacity to charm and establish cordial relations with US presidents served as a discreet-but-potent asset that played a key role in bolstering the transatlantic relationship. Her trips to the US included four State Visits, five State Dinners, and two unofficial visits during her reign.
I had the good fortune of meeting her: in 2007, when I served as a foreign policy advisor to the US Congress, I was presented to Queen Elizabeth at a garden party at the British Embassy in Washington, DC. This would be Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh’s last state visit to the USA. It was easy to see how even the world’s strongmen could be tongue tied in her presence. Though the encounter lasted only a few moments, the impression would prove permanent.
The anniversary of her death serves as a reminder of the void created by her absence
For the Queen, these overseas trips, particularly to the US, weren’t merely ceremonial; they represented a commitment to fostering relationships, building bridges and strengthening alliances, even when policy diversions between White House and Number Ten might have been strained at various junctures. Her familiarity with the players, ability to cultivate goodwill and smooth tensions left an imprint that will not soon fade.
Elizabeth II was a model example of the unifying power of leadership, underpinned by faith and selfless dedication to duty. As the current tense condition of divided America displays, politically-driven, self-interested civic leaders can’t hold a candle to the late Queen. Indeed, who could?
Over the years, particularly through her Christmas broadcasts, Queen Elizabeth identified her faith as the source of her inspiration. Quite naturally and without pretence, she consistently highlighted its importance to a world increasingly hostile to Christian beliefs. For the world beyond Britain, without intending to be, Elizabeth was a key defender of Western culture and values.
Beyond her spiritual and ceremonial role, Queen Elizabeth II embodied the essence of a constitutional monarch, a concept elusive to most Americans. Navigating a complex web of realms, peoples, institutions, and ideas, her commitment to a transitioning imperial nation that evolved into a multiethnic state and the diverse Commonwealth underscored her deft statesmanship. Her reign was a testament to the art of unification – a quality sorely lacking in America’s contemporary fractured state.
One of Queen Elizabeth II’s most remarkable attributes was her consistency and stability in a world experiencing rapid change. Her reign witnessed enormous societal shifts, technological and travel advancements, and geopolitical realignments. Through it all, her presence was an antidote to the turbulence of uncertainty. The anniversary of her death serves as a reminder of the void created by her absence, a void that reflects the priceless reassurance the Queen brought.
When we most need an upright, steady, and decent cultural standard bearer, when our Western foundations are under attack like never before, we no longer have the Queen’s physical presence. Certainly among the valuable attributes of a constitutional monarchy is its capacity to provide smooth transitions. King Charles had an extensive internship and, in his parents, the best examples of public service. However, while the world has inevitably moved forward since her death, it is a striking reality that Queen Elizabeth II’s inspiration and legacy remains woven into the fabric of our being no matter which side of the ocean or corner of the world we occupy.
Lee Cohen, a senior fellow of the Bow Group and the Bruges Group, was adviser on Great Britain to the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and founded the Congressional United Kingdom Caucus
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