Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch,
died last month at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
She died peacefully at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer, with family by her side. Her last duty, just two days before her death to appoint the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, which she did with her usual grace and smile. Her death prompted an outpouring of grief around the world and New Zealand, like Australia, and the UK declared a one-off public holiday for people in her honour.
The Queen came to the throne in 1952 at the age of 21 after the death of her father and witnessed enormous social change. Her tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK's entry into - and withdrawal from - the European Union. Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Ms Truss, born 101 years later in 1975. In New Zealand, her reign started when the National Party led by Sidney Holland was in power and ended 17 Prime Minsters later with Labour’s Jacinda Ardern.
Her visit soon after her coronation over the summer of 1953 was the first time a reigning sovereign had set foot in New Zealand. The Queen toured 46 towns or cities and attended 110 functions. In her Christmas message broadcast from Auckland, Her Majesty paid tribute to the victims of the Tangiwai Rail Disaster that occurred less than two days after her arrival. It was estimated that 3 out of 4 New Zealanders turned out to see her and the young, enchanting and vibrant Queen delighted an older generation and created memories for the children who lined up to see her. They would all grow up to be, one way or another, “royal watchers”, aware of her reign and its milestones, keeping up with the lives of her children, their spouses and her grandchildren.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh came to Pukekohe in December 1953 as part of her national tour. On 30 December 1953, the Royal couple arrived via Paerata Road and Edinburgh Street, descended from their car outside the Strand Theatre at the southern end of King Street, and made their way to a dais erected near the intersection of King Street, Massey Avenue and Manukau Road, where they waved to the crowd and formally greeted local dignitaries. The crowd of about 15,000 people included 2,500 children from local schools. The event was a joyous, momentous occasion replayed over time and time again throughout her and other royal family member’s visits.
New Zealand though was a country with a lot of growing up to do, many miles away from the seat of the throne. TheWaitangi Tribunal was set up in 1975, to investigate Crown breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and in 1987, Māori became an official language of New Zealand. The introduction of a new election system in the 1990’s and shift to a free-market economic ideology allowed New Zealand to continue to grow in its independence away from the ‘mother country’ However, despite simmering republican sentiments there was a reluctance to move away from Britain constitutionally. New Zealand retired and then later reinstated the royal honours system and attempts to change the flag and remove the Union Jack from its corner came to nothing in a 2016 referendum.
The passing of the monarchy to her son, King Charles III gives New Zealand another chance at a decent conversation at the role that monarchy can hold in a country very much changed since 1952. New Zealand still does not have its own constitution outlining its fundamental laws of government. Relying instead on a conglomerate type of constitution, clumsily located in 45 acts of parliament, and have recently found ourselves in a situation where a government with total control can enact legislation that creates massive social divisions and runs foul with the desires of its local leaders.
Whatever the shape and outcome of that conversation will be something that future generations will live with and history will come to tell the story of its success or otherwise. But whatever happens, the impact of the Queen’s reign will leave a rich and significant mark on our history.