Queen Elizabeth's biggest regrets: Handling tragedy and loss
Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. The British monarch reigned for 70 years. For many, she was an influential figure who appeared to make no missteps. However, Elizabeth II herself had two decisions she regretted until the end of her life.
Queen Elizabeth II was undoubtedly one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Distinguished, calm, and always elegantly dressed, she was a model of good manners for many people. And although many citizens of the United Kingdom saw her as someone who made no mistakes, Queen Elizabeth II herself could never forgive two decisions until her dying day.
The Aberfan disaster
Penny Junor, a biographer of the British royal family, once revealed to the media that Elizabeth II was aware that her decisions were not always right.
The queen struggled for a long time with how she handled the situation in 1966, when a school in the Welsh village of Aberfan was buried under a landslide of wet mud, earth, and coal. On October 21, 1966, 144 people died, including 116 students. Rescue operations lasted more than a week. Unfortunately, only a few children were saved.
Princess Margaret's husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, was at the scene that very night. He was followed by Prince Philip. Initially, Elizabeth did not want to come at all. Even the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, urged her to change her mind. The monarch arrived in Aberfan with her husband eight days after the landslide. She was deeply saddened by the situation. Years later, she admitted that she regretted delaying her visit.
The death of Princess Diana
Elizabeth II also blamed herself for her reaction to the death of Princess Diana. The "People's Princess" died in a hospital on August 31, 1997, in Paris after a tragic car accident. The news of Diana's death plunged the whole world into mourning. However, Elizabeth II insisted on sticking to protocol. She remained in Scotland, where at Balmoral Castle she was caring for Diana's sons, William and Harry. Initially, she did not even want to lower the flag at Buckingham Palace—the media heavily criticized her steadfastness.
The monarch's advisors persuaded Elizabeth II to return to London and address the situation. On September 5, 1997, she appeared on public television. Just before Princess Diana's funeral, she finally addressed the nation.
"What I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart. First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness," said the Queen.
The monarch's speech was widely commented upon. Fans of Princess Diana noted that Elizabeth II did not shed even a single tear during the address. Penny Junor revealed that years after the tragedy and funeral, the British monarch regretted her restraint and rigid adherence to protocol.
