The British sovereign has many titles to her name, but was recently offered a more unusual one: “The Oldie of the Year” for her work and example during the pandemic. However, the Queen felt strongly that she wasn’t the right candidate for the award, given annually by Oldie Magazine.
The chairman of the awards, Gyles Brandreth, a popular British author and broadcaster, had written to the monarch’s private secretary, Sir Edward Young, to see if Elizabeth II would be happy to receive the award.
In true regal style, the Queen let her feelings be known in a very polite way. Her private secretary replied thanking the organizers for the honor, but turned it down in a way only one so old and experienced could:
“Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such The Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept, and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient,” the letter explained, as reported by the BBC.
The award has been given out for the last 29 years, and celebrates a whole range of elderly individuals, including nurses, athletes, and actors for their incredible achievements. Incidentally, the queen’s husband, the late Prince Philip, was a previous recipient in the year he turned 90.
With his usual dry wit, the late-Duke of Edinburgh, received the award saying: “There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing — ever more quickly — and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all.”
While the 95-year-old monarch uncharacteristically recently pulled out of a planned trip to Northern Ireland due to fatigue, let’s hope she continues to feel young and energetic as she she adds more years to her great age.
And today we celebrate...