Hartley Neita, Contributor
HER MAJESTY Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of Jamaica, is celebrating her her 80th birthday this year, and it is being done with pomp and class in her home country, England.
This past week there was a religious service at the world-famous St. Paul's Cathedral, which was done with taste and style.
As a child, weaned as I was on stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and other royal fairy tales, I was a great admirer of the two princesses, Elizabeth and her younger sister, Margaret Rose. I wept for the latter when she was prevented from marrying the love of her life, Captain Peter Townsend. Not only was he a commoner, and she royalty, but he was divorced.
Being divorced, in particular, ruled him out from becoming the future Queen's brother-in-law. Her next love was another commoner, a photographer, whom she married and brought into the Royal Family with the new title of Lord Snowdon which he will carry with him until he dies, even though they were subsequently divorced.
Elizabeth was more fortunate. Her love was for a Greek who was a member of his country's Royal Family. He was, therefore, accepted by British high society, and they have since lived and loved together happily ever after.
LINGERING LOVE
She has been our Queen for over 50 years and even though we shed the royal mantle 40-odd years ago, there is still a lingering love and admiration for her in our country. Sadly, her son Prince Charles has not inherited her charm and warmth.
Because of her, we once enjoyed a public holiday on her official birthday every year. This official day was in June. Her actual birthday is in December, which happens to be winter in Britain, and if that day were celebrated the winter cold would have cramped the celebrations. So a date in summer was chosen.
During the years we paid more homage to our Queen, there were many traditions we followed. For example, at official luncheons and dinners, smoking was not permitted until the master of ceremonies tapped his glass with his spoon and intoned:
"Ladies and gentlemen, The Queen!"
SIPPED A TOAST
Everyone stood and sipped a toast to Her Majesty. It was then the master of ceremonies would say:
"Gentlemen, you may now smoke!" Note, women were not invited to do so.
We discovered very early that we were British subjects, peons of Her Majesty. As such, we could not shake her hands, unless she held her hand to us first. Former Minister of Education Edwin Allen, a Mico gentleman, stretched his hand to greet her when she arrived at a function at the National Stadium. She ignored it, leaving Allen's hand dangling in empty air.
We commoners have never felt her hand as she always wears gloves. Gentlemen, no matter how high their status, could not hold her arms to help her up or down the stairs. And, she cannot be embraced or kissed in public.
Except for the dwindling numbers of royalty in the world today, the rest of us from President Bush to The Most Honourable Simpson Miller are regarded as commoners.
In meeting her, gentlemen are required to bow their heads, smartly, and women have to curtsy by bending one knee even if they are suffering from arthritis.
Despite the new honours awarded to our Prime Ministers, they can accept and retain the award of Privy Councillor (P.C.), and attorneys still eagerly accept the award of Queen's Counsel (Q.C.). The only attorney, I can recall, who turned in his Q.C. was the late Ian Ramsay. None of our Prime Ministers and attorneys will ever do the same.
During one of her visits to Jamaica I was assigned to the Royal Party as the Queen's Press Liaison Officer. One the first day of her arrival, I met with her Press Secretary and Ladies-In-Waiting and was briefed on the protocol expected from the Jamaican media.
Four days later there was a reception on the lawns of the Royal Caribbean Hotel in Montego Bay. It began to rain and all the guests crowded into the dining room.
It became very hot and I saw a lady, very beautiful, looking uncomfortable. I squeezed through the crowd and standing beside her began to fan her cool with a programme.
She smiled her thanks. I seized the moment to throw some lyrics.
"Are you from Montego Bay?" I began.
"No, Mr. Neita," she replied. "You do not recognise me? We met four days ago at King's House. I am one of the Queen's Ladies-in-Waiting!"
Oops!
