Seven decades of Queen Elizabeth II as the beloved monarch of hearts and minds
We at NNEdPro were deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen on 8th September 2022. Our thoughts and condolences go out to The Royal family and all her loved ones.
Ahead of the state funeral on 19th September 2022 we are sharing this humble tribute.
Our Honorary Joint Presidents, The Lord Rana OBE and The Lord Balfe, both members of the House of Lords, and NNEdPro Associate Director Dr Rajna Golubic (University of Oxford), have had the pleasure of meeting Queen Elizabeth II on various occasions and reminisce on their encounters with affection.
Lord Diljeet Singh Rana OBE, in his role as a member of the House of Lords and leading on many aspects of UK-India business relations, has had the privilege of seeing Her Majesty in person at innumerable gatherings, as well as meeting personally. On one particular occasion, Lord Rana was invited to join a small group to dine with The Queen and fondly remembers how amazed he was by how the she put all her guests at ease and the remarkable attention to detail she had when making everyone feel so comfortable and valued. Lord Rana speaks of her incredible knowledge, quality of conversation, as well as her interest and dedication to service as being exemplary and unique. He feels truly honoured to have had the acquaintance of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and conveys that her kindness will forever be remembered by one and all.
Lord Balfe also had the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty on various occasions in his role as a member of the House of Lords. According to him, Her Majesty realised the importance of international solidarity. Her devotion was not just to the Commonwealth but to its peoples of many different races, religions and levels of affluence. Like NNEdPro, she supported the developing world and its people. We can take strength from her example in developing our International cooperation and desire to build a more just and equitable world.
NNEdPro Associate Director, Dr Rajna Golubic, had the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty during the quincentenary celebration of St John's College in April 2011. Dr Golubic, being a representative of the graduate student committee, was one of the few invited to attend the celebratory lunch with Her Majesty The Queen and speaks fondly of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She will cherish the memory of The Queen's genuine interest in the research taking place, her warm and kind manner, and her dedication and service to the nation which was evident not only in her life's work but also when meeting in person. Dr Golubic is deeply saddened by Her Majesty's passing and will remember her for her elegance, clarity of communication and the role model she became for many female leaders.
As a global organisation headquartered in the UK but working across continents, many of us have taken inspiration from the life and work of Queen Elizabeth II, who was loved and respected by millions all over the globe. Through seven decades of selfless service, she gave the UK a unique place in the modern world.
May Her Majesty rest in peace, and may her unparalleled legacy live forever more!
Compiled by Professor Sumantra Ray, Sarah Anderson and Matheus Abrantes on behalf of the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (Cambridge, UK)
Images from https://www.royal.uk