LONDRA – Once upon a time there was a queen, who had just ascended the throne, back in 1952. And there is still, seventy years later, in the days of the Platinum Jubilee, while the United Kingdom celebrates the epic of an unparalleled sovereign. Of course, not everyone celebrates: 30 percent of his subjects would prefer a republic and the former colonies like Jamaica, wounded by slavery, where Elizabeth II still remains head of state, are preparing to abolish her role and the monarchy. , breaking the last legacy of the British Empire. Yet, her attention and respect for this queen cross national borders, making her a character of historical dimensions.
One reason is its longevity record: a 96-year lifespan, including seven decades with the crown on its head. If ninety percent of success is being seen, as Woody Allen argues, that is enough to have made it a familiar presence, at home and abroad: fifteen British premieres have passed from Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson, thirteen presidents of the United States since Eisenhower to Biden, seven popes from Pius XII to Pope Francis (not to mention the fifty Italian presidents of the Council), while she continued to wave her hand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. But the second reason, the commentators in London agree, is more substantial and important: in a world of perennial contrasts, left and right, north and south, rich and poor, Elizabeth has always remained above the parties, a symbol of a ‘ impartiality that is never Pilate or indifferent, but rather the bearer of a message that aims to unify and comfort, rather than divide and provoke.
Having maintained such an attitude with dignity and decorum for so long has ended up making him a universal figure, an icon of tradition, understood as our roots, but also of the ability to adapt to changes and renew ourselves. La di lei was the first coronation broadcast live on TV: Arrigo Levi was the correspondent who told the story for Rai on the microphone. Now the royal palace posts his official photos on social media. Not everything has worked out the right way, in the 70 years of The Queen: three divorces out of four children, the controversy over the lack of empathy initially shown in front of the tragic death of Princess Diana, the golden exile of Harry and Meghan in California accompanied by accusations of racism to the royal family, finally the worst scandal, the sexual abuse of Prince Andrew, covered with a compensation of 12 million pounds, paid out of his own pocket to protect his favorite and wicked son.
Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, Tolstoy teaches in the famous incipit of Anna Karenina, and this was the real unhappiness of the Windsor house. Nonetheless, when she appeared yesterday on the famous balcony, next to the three kings who will one day take her place, Charles, William and little prince George, albeit for the first time without having her husband Philip, who passed away a year ago, by her side, understandably she burst with satisfaction as the timeless mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of her nation. Even we Italians, who ironically on the same day of June 2 celebrated the farewell to the monarchy and the birth of the republic, can greet you with sympathy. There is something melancholy about the Platinum Jubilee, for the British and for the sovereign herself: since she does one every ten years, this is likely to be her last one. And she, too, is in a sense the last. There is no need to be a monarchist to recognize that there will no longer be a queen like Elizabeth.