HOW do you begin to encapsulate the legacy of a leader who ruled for 70 years and 214 days?
Australian Catholic University Researcher Dr Miles Pattenden said we should start with service.
“Queen Elizabeth will undoubtedly be remembered for her commitment to duty and service leadership,” he said.
“She embodied and exemplified what it meant to be a good Christian.”
Buckingham Palace released a statement today confirming the 96-year-old monarch had died at her Balmoral estate in the Scottish Highlands.
Shortly after her death, Pope Francis sent a telegram to offer his condolences to the royal family and praised the late Queen’s “noble spirit”.
Dr Pattenden said the Queen was a “prominent and public Christian leader” who used her faith to “embrace and influence Christians around the world”.
“She ruled during periods of great political turmoil, and very often held differing denominations of Christianity together,” he said.
Sociology and religion expert Professor Bryan Turner said the Queen’s Christian leadership style was “a remarkable model of public service”.
“I think she often suppressed her own feelings and interests for the better of the Commonwealth,” he explained.
“She was a devout Christian and was very much a symbol of tradition and family.”
The passing of Britain’s longest serving monarch caused an avalanche of mourning across social media platforms around the world.
Dr Pattenden said many Australians were encountering “strange feelings of grief”.
“I think many Australians have special ties to England and are naturally feeling sad this morning,” he said.
“Australia’s connection to England transcends current politics and cultural barriers.
“Good or bad, the monarchy is an important part of Australia’s identity.”
Professor Turner and Dr Pattenden believed Australia’s future relationship with the monarchy was uncertain.
“There’s very few Australians who remember a time when Elizabeth wasn’t queen,” Professor Turner explained.
“She’s been the staple of the monarchy and her death launches a period of great historical change.”
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth weathered the storm of wars, Brexit, a pandemic, multiple public scandals and 15 British Prime Ministers.
When asked if her successor and son King Charles III had big shoes to fill, Professor Turner laughed.
“Huge Wellington boots,” he said.
“She’s a hard woman to follow”.
