That’s nearly 64 years without a career break, sabbatical or, for that matter, promotion. She’s outlasted 11 prime ministers, lived through a world war, and ruled over the end of the British Empire. She’s been to 116 different countries, including a few that no longer exist!
Every day the Queen answers a selection of letters that have been received that day from the public, then she reads and signs official paperwork from the countries of which she is queen, before receiving various guests. She also has to appoint numerous government and church ministers (only ceremonially: she doesn’t get to choose anyone herself), as well as opening parliament. It goes without saying that the Queen didn’t have a choice in whether or not this would be her career for life.
• Is the Queen’s job easy or hard?
• What kind of things does the Queen get to experience that a regular citizen doesn’t?
• What kind of things has the Queen never experienced that a regular citizen does all the time? (Has she ever had a pizza? Has she ever been to McDonalds’?)
• Do you think the Queen would like to be an ordinary citizen for a few days?
• Would you rather have the lifestyle, privileges and responsibilities of the Queen or the freedom to be able to do what you want?
The new Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has in the past said he would like to get rid of the monarchy and have an elected head of state instead. This means that instead of a king or queen being head of state without a choice for their entire life, we would have someone who wanted to do the job elected for a period of time.
• Is this is a fairer system? Is it a better way to run the country?
• What don’t you get to choose in your life?
• Is it a good or a bad thing that you don’t get to choose everything in your life?
• In Romans 8:28, Paul writes, ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ What does God promise in this verse? Who does he promise it to?
• What does it mean for something to work for your good? What kind of outcomes would God think of as good?
• Can you think of an example of a bad situation being worked for someone’s good?
• Do you think God’s promise applies equally to situations we have chosen to be in and situations we have no control over?
