Early today the Commonwealth and the world received the news that Queen Elizabeth 11 had died.

At the age of 96 it was not unexpected but still comes as a shock to many and, surprisingly, many of our students have commented that they are affected by the announcement. We have our flag at school flying at half mast alongside other crown and state agencies. For over 70 years this indomitable woman has reigned. 

Her time has spanned her first Prime Minister Winston Churchill (born in the 1870s) through to the new Prime Minister Liz Truss (born in the 1970s) – a century. In that time, she has seen the world change beyond comprehension, world leaders come and go, revolutions and wars begin and end, humans explore space and land on the moon, the Commonwealth change as some members become republics and science and technology advance beyond anything anyone would have imagined in 1952.

Through it all she has remained a constant example of duty and service and of a woman exercising leadership and power in what was very much a man’s world for most of her reign. How challenging that would have been. She continued her work while giving birth to and raising children and managing her own human sadness and disappointment through family tragedy and difficulties. She held onto that duty to the last, confirming the new British Prime Minister in office only three days ago. What an amazing life!

Our Prime Minister called her “an extraordinary woman” today and I think that is what our girls have a sense of. Here is a woman who has paved the way for other female leaders.

Charles becomes King and no doubt the Commonwealth may look very different over the next decade or two as we end the very long era of Elizabeth’s reign. For our students, they are watching history in the making.

Ngā mihi