ON February 6, 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ascended the Throne.
Sixty years later she is our second-longest reigning Monarch and with God’s help will eventually surpass Queen Victoria’s record of 63 years and 216 days.
Her Majesty has reigned throughout the tenures of 12 prime ministers. She ascended the Throne as a young Princess and has reigned over a United Kingdom which has undergone massive social, political and economic changes.
She has been a reassuringly constant fixture in the nation during a reign which has witnessed the post-war era, the Cold War, UK membership of the European Union, the loss of Empire and the development of the Commonwealth.
It is my belief that Her Majesty has set a wonderful example for the nation and throughout her reign she has displayed dignity, courage, devotion to duty and selflessness and as the visit to the Irish Republic demonstrated last year, she has been a wonderful ambassador for the United Kingdom and a force for good.
The Queen’s visit to the Republic of Ireland last year demonstrated her skills as a diplomat and went a very long way towards closing a painful chapter of history.
The tension that existed at the start of the visit disappeared as Her Majesty won many new friends and admirers.
The visit was a huge success and it was clear that the vast majority of people in the Irish Republic were genuinely pleased to see her. The warmth of the welcome she received was wonderful to see and I believe it has helped set the tone for a warmer and closer relationship between the people and governments of the British Isles.
It is indisputable that the Union benefits Northern Ireland in many ways: culturally, economically, politically and socially. The Jubilee stands as a prime example of the cultural and historical bonds between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom and it is absolutely fitting that we in Northern Ireland should join enthusiastically in the national celebrations that will mark the Jubilee.
The history of Northern Ireland means that a significant portion of the population does not regard the Union Flag or the Monarchy as representative of them. This is indeed regrettable, but it should not prevent us from playing our full role in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion as citizens of the United Kingdom.
We should fly the flag and celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in a manner that befits the occasion and in keeping with our fellow citizens in Great Britain, in a celebration of all that is good about being British.
The flag of our nation should not be seen as an attempt to offend or to mark territory but rather as a genuine all inclusive banner of everything that we British should be proud of.
The Union Flag is not a sectarian emblem and the monarchy is not a sectarian symbol. People of all races and creeds will unite under the Union Flag to celebrate the Jubilee and will bear testament to that.