This great institution has been at the heart of the
country and the lives of our people throughout its history. As
Parliamentarians, you share with your forebears a fundamental role in the laws
and decisions of your own age.
Parliament has survived as an unshakeable cornerstone
of our constitution and our way of life.
History links monarchs and Parliament, a connecting
thread from one period to the next. So, in an era when the regular, worthy
rhythm of life is less eye-catching than doing something extraordinary, I am
reassured that I am merely the second Sovereign to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.
As today, it was my privilege to address you during my
Silver and Golden Jubilees. Many of you were present ten years ago and some of
you will recall the occasion in 1977. Since my Accession, I have been a regular
visitor to the Palace of Westminster and, at the last count, have had the
pleasurable duty of treating with twelve Prime Ministers.
Over such a period, one can observe that the
experience of venerable old age can be a mighty guide but not a prerequisite
for success in public office. I am therefore very pleased to be addressing many
younger Parliamentarians and also those bringing such a wide range of
background and experience to your vital, national work.
During these years as your Queen, the support of
my family has, across the generations, been beyond measure. Prince Philip is, I
believe, well-known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he
has been a constant strength and guide. He and I are very proud and grateful
that The Prince of Wales and other members of our family are travelling on my
behalf in this Diamond Jubilee year to visit all the Commonwealth Realms and a
number of other Commonwealth countries.
These overseas tours are a reminder of our close
affinity with the Commonwealth, encompassing about one-third of the world’s
population. My own association with the Commonwealth has taught me that the
most important contact between nations is usually contact between its peoples.
An organisation dedicated to certain values, the Commonwealth has flourished
and grown by successfully promoting and protecting that contact.
At home, Prince Philip and I will be visiting towns
and cities up and down the land. It is my sincere hope that the Diamond Jubilee
will be an opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of
neighbourliness and celebration of their own communities.
We also hope to celebrate the professional and
voluntary service given by millions of people across the country who are
working for the public good. They are a source of vital support to the welfare
and wellbeing of others, often unseen or overlooked.
And as we reflect upon public service, let us again be
mindful of the remarkable sacrifice and courage of our Armed Forces. Much may
indeed have changed these past sixty years but the valour of those who risk
their lives for the defence and freedom of us all remains undimmed.
The happy relationship I have enjoyed with Parliament
has extended well beyond the more than three and a half thousand Bills I have
signed into law. I am therefore very touched by the magnificent gift before me,
generously subscribed by many of you. Should this beautiful window cause just a
little extra colour to shine down upon this ancient place, I should gladly
settle for that.
We are reminded here of our past, of the continuity of
our national story and the virtues of resilience, ingenuity and tolerance which
created it. I have been privileged to witness some of that history and, with
the support of my family, rededicate myself to the service of our great country
and its people now and in the years to come.
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