I was extremely moved by Queen Elizabeth II’s remark during the photoshoot at the G7 summit yesterday in Cornwall, UK. It was a lesson in poignant simplicity with more inner meaning than the words hold.

‘Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?’

- Queen Elizabeth II, Friday, June 11, 2021

It conveys so much meaning in such a small set of words. The fact that the leaders might not be enjoying themselves. That they are putting up a “show” for the rest of the world and the countries they represent. The Queen and her sorrow from the death of her husband recently still needing to put on a “song-and-dance” show in spite of the internal sorrow that she is processing and living with.

I personally don’t have much respect for monarchy as well as politics in general. My opinion is that countries survive and thrive in spite of politics to a great extent, rather than through it.

But with the Queen, I realize one thing - she has played her part really well. And imbibed the role that she was born to play. At some point, Elizabeth the person is subsumed by the role she is playing, and then perhaps that becomes one and the same. I hope for UK’s sake a future King Charles is better than Charles the person in the way the role is played - especially in standing up to the tall ideals set by his mother. We will have to see how monarchy progresses in the UK.

But yet, the lesson in the simplicity of yesterday’s question from the Queen shows her caliber of deep thinking, framing, and flawless context-sensitive natural delivery. I applaud that ability.

Source:

The Queen: ‘Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?’ - https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-57447066

Are you supposed to be enjoying yourselves? Queen asks G7 - https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/are-you-supposed-to-be-enjoying-yourselves-queen-asks-g7-1.5467436