The following letter was published, along with others, in The Times on 9 September, under the heading “Remembering our gracious, noble Queen.”
Sir, One image of the Queen above all should surely remain in our minds: robed and wearing the Imperial State Crown at the opening of a new session of parliament. It was always a magnificent reminder of her position as the central element of our constitution. The Queen embodied our historical continuity perfectly in the ceremony which brings together the estates of the realm though which we have been governed over the centuries. The balance of power between them may have shifted dramatically, but the monarch remains the indispensable link between them, ensuring our stability and freedom. No one has carried out that vital role with greater dignity and devotion than the Queen.
Lord Lexden
Conservative Party historian