[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E133-E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING QUEEN ELIZABETH II

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2022

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am grateful to 
recognize Queen Elizabeth's 70th year on the British throne. She has 
been Great Britain's head of state through 14 different American 
Presidents, meeting with 13 of them. I include in the Record, an 
article from The Washington Times of February 7, 2022 by Danica Kirka, 
celebrating Queen Elizabeth's' time on the throne. I appreciate 
Ambassador Karen Pierce for her service in Washington.
  I particularly appreciate the Queen's service as I am a native of 
Charleston, South Carolina, which is the most British city in North 
America founded by British settlers in 1670. As Co-Chairman of the U.K. 
Caucus, I was grateful to have hosted the Minister for the Armed 
Forces, James Heappey, of the U.K. Parliament, at the Capitol Hill Club 
last week for dinner, as we remain united in supporting the 
independence of Ukraine.

         Queen Elizabeth II Marks 70th Anniversary of Her Rule

       London.--As the United Kingdom marked the 70th anniversary 
     of Queen Elizabeth II's rule on Sunday, the queen looked to 
     the future of the monarchy.
       In remarks delivered in time for Sunday morning's front 
     pages, the queen expressed a ``sincere wish'' that Prince 
     Charles' wife, Camilla, should be known as ``Queen Consort'' 
     when her son succeeds her as expected. With those words the 
     monarch sought to answer once and for all questions about the 
     status of Camilla, who was initially shunned by fans of the 
     late Princess Diana, Charles' first wife.
       ``The queen is such a realist and, you know, she's got a 
     business to run,'' historian Robert Lacey said. ``Well, they 
     call it `The Firm,' don't they? And this really brings 
     Camilla into the firm properly now and for the future.''
       It took years for many in Britain to forgive Charles, whose 
     admitted infidelity and long-time links to Camilla torpedoed 
     his marriage to Diana. The popular, glamorous princess died 
     in a Paris car crash in 1997, five years after the couple 
     separated in a messy public split. But the public mood has 
     softened since Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.
       Now known as the Duchess of Cornwall, the 74-year-old 
     Camilla has taken on roles at more than 100 charities, 
     focusing on a wide range of issues including promoting 
     literacy, supporting victims of domestic violence and helping 
     the elderly.
       Her down-to-earth style and sense of humor eventually won 
     over many Britons. Her warmth softened Charles' stuffy image 
     and made him appear more approachable, if not happier, as he 
     cut ribbons, unveiled plaques and waited for his chance to 
     reign.
       Charles, 73, has long made it clear that he wants Camilla 
     to be known as queen when he ultimately succeeds his mother 
     on the throne. In his own message congratulating the queen on 
     her long years of service, Charles thanked his mother for her 
     support.
       ``We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my 
     mother's wish,'' they said. ``As we have sought together to 
     serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our 
     communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast 
     support throughout.''
       The queen's comments are remarkable in that they brought 
     back memories of one of the lowest moments of her 70 years on 
     the throne. The royal family was widely criticized for its 
     initial silence in the aftermath of Diana's death, with one 
     national newspaper proclaiming ``Your People Are Suffering. 
     Speak to Us Ma'am.''
       In backing Charles and Camilla, the queen remembered the 
     support she received from her husband, Prince Philip, who 
     died last year after decades at her side, as well as the role 
     her mother played as the wife of a king.
       ``I am fortunate to have had the steadfast and loving 
     support of my family. I was blessed that, in Prince Philip, I 
     had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and 
     unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it,'' she wrote. 
     ``It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father's 
     reign.''
       ``And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes 
     King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same 
     support that you have given me.''
       But for now, the queen remains at work.
       On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released a photo of the 
     monarch sitting in front of her official red dispatch box 
     with government papers spread out before her.
       The 95-year-old monarch is expected to spend the day at 
     Sandringham, the country estate in Norfolk where her father, 
     King George VI, died suddenly on Feb. 6, 1952, making her 
     queen.
       ``It is a sad day and one that reminds her of the close 
     relationship she had with him,'' said Lacey, the historical 
     consultant to the Netflix series ``The Crown.''
       ``(Sunday) is a day when, by tradition, she likes to go 
     back to Sandringham, the country roots of the family,'' he 
     told The Associated Press. ``He liked to consider himself the 
     Squire of Sandringham, the King of Britain, but he'd go out 
     and walk the fields, shoot the game. That's what she 
     remembers.''
       While Sunday's anniversary is expected to be low-key, 
     public celebrations of the monarch's platinum jubilee are 
     scheduled for June, when the weather improves. The 
     festivities will include a military parade, neighborhood 
     parties and a competition to create a new dessert--a mini 
     extravaganza that will take place over a special four-day 
     weekend June 2-5.
       The celebrations are meant to recognize the woman who 
     became a symbol of stability for the U.K. as it navigated an 
     age of uncertainty.
       Britain's longest-serving monarch, the only sovereign most 
     Britons have ever known, she has been a constant presence as 
     Britain navigated the end of empire, the swinging '60s, the 
     labor strife of the 1980s, international terrorism, Brexit 
     and the COVID-19 pandemic.
       In her message, the queen promised to keep working for the 
     U.K. and the Commonwealth.
       ``As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to 
     renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will 
     always be devoted to your service,'' she wrote.

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