Queen Elizabeth II’s belief that difficult times too will pass is „as relevant in 2022” as it was more than 70 years ago when she ascended to the throne, British Ambassador Andrew Noble said on Thursday at the annual Queen’s Birthday Party.
This year, the occasion was even grander and more joyous than usual as it also celebrated the queen’s Platinum Jubilee making her the longest-serving British monarch ever.
Celebration
The evening was full of celebration, purpose, determination and fun– and rich in symbolism. Even an almighty Bucharest summer storm couldn’t dampen the atmosphere.
Guests either yanked out their umbrellas, took shelter in marquees or under foliage, or simply ignored the downpour to listen to speeches from the Romanian Premier Nicolae Ciuca and British Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey.
The Ambassador took guests back to a speech made by then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, a few years before she was crowned in which she said that her life would be dedicated to the service of people, „be it long or short.”
Service
„Notice that it was not the duration that was the most important aspect for the Queen, but the idea of service, in the service of a family we are all a part of,” Mr. Noble told more than 1,000 guests assembled in their finery for the celebration.
This year there was no flyover of British jets, likely because the conflict raging in neighboring Ukraine made it inappropriate. A real war is simply too close to home.
The Ambassador acknowledged that when he touched on the Russian invasion in his speech.
Ukraine
„I want to celebrate the will and perseverance shown by our friends across the border in Ukraine at the moment. These are the qualities they have shown in the last 106 days and which they will continue to show until this barbaric and completely unjustified invasion is totally repulsed,” he said.
“I also welcome our allies and friends who send military equipment to Ukraine, those who send humanitarian aid and fuel and those who support refugees,” he added.
Symbolically, the Romanian Defense Ministry Band was chosen to play the national anthems to mark NATO and bilateral collaboration which will “facilitate the success of Ukraine, generate safety and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, keep the Romanian skies safe and develop the security of this vital region, whose future, in times of peace and democracy, is essential for all of us here tonight,” the Ambassador said.
The Romanian prime minister, a former head of the Armed Forces, said the „security situation in the Black Sea region, severely affected by Russia’s illegal and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine demonstrates the importance of cooperation in defending our common values as free and democratic societies.”
Jubilee
But despite the shadow of war and the uncertain economic outlook it has generated, people were determined to celebrate the milestone Jubilee.
As the speeches and ceremonial part of the reception ended, people slipped into the party spirit aided by iconic Roma folk band Caraf de Caliu who performed lively music for the rest of the evening.
Guests sipped Pimms and violet-tinted G&Ts and munched traditional fish and chips, a variety of chicken curries, and dainty hors d’oeuvres and petits fours.
Orthodox and Anglican priests mingled with government ministers, such as Virgil Popescu, the energy minister, UK documentary maker Charlie Ottley, Nicolae Ratiu, businessman and philnthropist, and members of the British and Romanian armed forces, business people, and some of the 3,000-strong British community.
Anchor
Hundreds remained on the damp lawn even after the reception held at the National Bank Arena in the genteel Cotroceni district of Bucharest had officially ended.
At the end of the day, it was all about the queen, that anchor of British public life and a symbol of duty and good governance across the world that still makes so many admire Britain.
“Her belief that difficult times will pass, as long as we remain true to our faith, our fundamental convictions, our political visions, and as long as we remain close to our friends and partners, is as relevant in 2022 as it was in 1947,” the Ambassador said.
Long Live the Queen! Sa traiaca Regina!
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