The Queen's official representative in the West Midlands, Lord Lieutenant John Crabtree, reflects on 'a life lived well' and what kind of King her son Charles will be.
The Queen's official representative in the West Midlands has today shared his memories of his first and last encounters with Queen Elizabeth II - with Birmingham youngsters at the heart of each moment and her desire to 'unite people' her abiding legacy.
John Crabtree, the region's Lord Lieutenant, will be attending the Queen's funeral on Monday after first attending her Lying-in-State today (Thursday). He will also support the monarchy through the extended period of Royal mourning, which runs beyond the funeral.
Mr Crabtree has been Her Majesty's formal representative in the West Midlands since 2017 and will now represent King Charles III. He spoke in praise of the Queen's 'incredible resilience and deep faith' as he told BirminghamLive of Her Majesty's determination to use her position to help 'knit communities together, not divide them.'
"She believed in her role to unite people, whatever their differences, and as her representative, in my modest way, that is what I have tried to do on her behalf, and in her name," he said. He said he was 'absolutely certain' the new King Charles would seek to uphold that vision while continuing to press the causes close to his heart.
The Lord Lieutenant learned the Queen was very ill early on the day of her death, via a message sent to him while he was holidaying on the Scilly Isles. "We have had the London Bridge plan in place for a long time, so I had to immediately look at that and work out how it was going to kick in."
Once back in Birmingham, he donned his official uniform and liaised with local organisations and the Palace to ensure the Family's wishes and official plans were enacted. Alongside his duties saying farewell to the Queen, he also takes on a supportive role to the new King and will help plan Charles' first visit to the region as Head of State, which is expected to be 'soon'.
He said he was struck then, as always, by her stamina and determination to leave a positive impression. By then the toll of age was making its mark.
"There were children from four Birmingham primary schools there. She was being ushered towards her car and I leaned in and said: 'Ma'am, these children are here from Birmingham' and she turned round and spent time with them, beaming at them, taking in the sheer scale of their diversity.
"I met her later inside the Palace and she was animated about the Baton Relay and Games, but when she met the children that made her day." His links to the Queen dated back to 1998, when he was part of the greeting party when she visited Birmingham Children's Hospital to officially open it. "I remember she met hundreds of people there and kept her incredible smile for all of them.
"What I didn't realise at the time is she then went on to Jaguar and met thousands of workers there, and then went to Castle Vale to meet the action trust and Prince's Trust volunteers, and also met an organisation supporting young Muslim women - spending time with all of them."
The role of the Lord Lieutenant is to "uphold the dignity of the Crown" and represent the monarch, presenting businesses with the Queen's Awards for Industry, and British Empire Medals to volunteers and local heroes, and supporting the voluntary sector and the region's armed forces and blue light services, along with a troop of deputies. He also coordinates Royal visits with the Palace team.
"I am looking forward to now supporting the King - he will want people prepared to roll up their sleeves and get on with it."
Asked if the Queen's public and private persona differed at all, Sir John said: "Like all people, I have had difficult times in my life and you then arrive at work, press that button on the entry door, put on that smile, and keep it there. She was always so reliably committed, so resilient, you never saw her waver."
He remembered the Queen attending a Royal Variety Show at Birmingham Hippodrome in 1999, with entertainer Brian Conley as host and Ken Dodd among the performers. "I remember The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were up in the royal box, and Brian Conley came on stage and sees them and pretends to be a bit shocked, and falls down into the orchestra pit. Obviously it was well rehearsed but that moment made her laugh, it was unforgettable.
"Ken Dodd came on later, they both loved him. I have many memories of little moments that showed her humanity. She had a great sense of humour - one time my young daughter got us to ask the Queen if she would abolish homework - she laughed and said she unfortunately did not have that power."
He added: "She never let her smile falter, she was the ultimate professional. When I received my OBE I spoke highly of the Princess Royal, I praised her wonderful work as patron of the charity Sense, and the Queen was beaming with pride, just like any mother would."
He said of her legacy: "We have an unwritten Constitution, dependent on precedent and public support, which brings us a free judiciary, a free press, freedom of speech. As a bastion of old traditions, she has protected that Constitution. She has adapted and changed but she stands steadfast for all those freedoms."