The secrets of her success, from Lincoln royal author and historian Tracy Borman
These past few days, since Queen Elizabeth II’s death was announced on 8 September, have been a time like no other. There has been a sense of profound sadness felt by people not just in Britain but across the globe at the passing of this much-loved monarch, whose dedication to duty never once wavered during a reign that spanned seven decades.
It has felt like watching history in the making, too. We are seeing – for the first time – events like the Accession Council for the new King, Charles III. As a royal historian and broadcaster, it is a truly extraordinary time. In fact, I am having to draft a new chapter to my newly-published history of the monarchy in order to bring it right up to date. In doing so, I have been reflecting on how historians of the future will remember our late Queen.
Early in the reign of Elizabeth II’s father, George VI, The Times predicted that a monarch’s success would depend on ‘the moral qualities of steadiness, staying power and self-sacrifice.’ During a reign that witnessed an almost unimaginable scale of change, the Queen acted as ‘an anchor for our age’, as one statesman put it. Along the way, she broke all sorts of records: longest reigning monarch in British history and longest reigning female head of state in the world, the first British monarch to reach their Sapphire and Platinum Jubilees, and the oldest living monarch, to name but a few. Just two days before her death, she welcomed Liz Truss into office, thereby beating the record of being served by the most prime ministers (15). In a speech given on the day when the Queen broke the first of these records, the then prime minister David Cameron aptly referred to her as ‘a golden thread running through three post-war generations.’
Tracy Borman, royal author, historian and Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University
Although Elizabeth II was viewed as a stalwart of tradition, the monarchy was quietly modernised during her long reign. Some of the more anachronistic customs of court life, such as the presentation of debutantes and the protocols concerning divorcees, were abolished. Buckingham Palace was no longer staffed by ‘tweedy aristocrats’ but specialists in public relations, the arts and social media. Royal finances became more streamlined. Most significantly of all, the Queen introduced new legislation giving equal pre-eminence to female heirs in the British line of succession for the first time in its 1,000 or more year-history – a truly revolutionary change that I think will be her greatest legacy.
According to the Book of Proverbs, ‘The heart of Kings is unknowable’. It is ironic that in this age of mass communication, we have fewer of Elizabeth II’s personal opinions and feelings on record than those of her predecessors. We know that she liked horseracing and corgis, spent her summers and Balmoral and her Christmases at Sandringham. But her spoken words were almost entirely the work of others. The speeches she gave at the opening of parliament were drafted by prime ministers and their advisers, and she had no choice but to read them out, word for word, even if she disagreed with any of the content. Every royal visit, dinner and walkabout was informed by a thorough briefing from her aides, with suggestions of what to say to whom. The Queen never gave any hint of frustration at such restrictions. It will be interesting to see whether her son and heir, King Charles III, will be similarly discreet.
What we do have in ample evidence, though, was the Queen’s unwavering sense of duty and the stabilising presence she gave to the monarchy during the past seventy years. Those qualities might not grab the history headlines in the same way as the king who married six times, his daughter the ‘Virgin Queen’, or the monarchs who ruled by conquest. But the very lack of drama was arguably the secret of Elizabeth II’s success.
Tracy Borman is a royal author and historian. Her latest book is Crown & Sceptre: 1,000 Years of Kings and Queens (Hodder, 2022). She is Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, and was born in the city.
Tracy Borman is a royal author and historian. Her latest book is Crown & Sceptre: 1,000 Years of Kings and Queens (Hodder, 2022). She is Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, and was born in the city.
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A meticulously designed modern home
A breathtaking five-bedroom Huf Haus offering 360 degree views of the sweeping Lincolnshire countryside, as well as a sauna, gym and jacuzzi, has been listed for just shy of £2 million.
The property, listed by estate agents Fine & Country (view the full listing here) at a guide price of £1,850,000, is located in the village of Aisby, around six miles between Grantham and Sleaford, and possesses stunning views from every room across three floors.
A state-of-the-art design comes with an open plan kitchen/diner area, as well as plenty of innovative features that would make you the envy of your friends – including a balcony, large gym, sauna, jacuzzi and even a grand piano.
A grand piano inside the spacious and slick living room. | Photo: Fine & Country
A jacuzzi outside for the summer months. | Photo: Fine & Country
The site also has planning permission to transform a barn into a separate private dwelling, offering yet more living space to an already expansive Huf Haus property.
A Huf Haus build is a kit house designed by the owner and a specialist architect, with the whole property prefabricated to exact specifications at a factory near Cologne in Germany, owned by German manufacturing company Huf Haus.
This 2004 post and beam construction is a demonstration of the Huf Haus work, creating a slick modern home designed around stunning Lincolnshire countryside.
A very large plot of land for your money. | Photo: Fine & Country
Imagine having your own sauna space in your house. | Photo: Fine & Country
The current owners said of the home: “The house is so well built and of such good quality it is going to be difficult to find something to equal it.
“The windows are all double-glazed and most have automatic external metal blinds to regulate the temperatures so it’s warm in winter and cool in summer.
“The house offers a lot of flexibility in terms of use of spaces – for instance, both the office and the gym have been lounges in the past, in fact the latter made an ideal extra TV room for the children. There is so much space for everyone of all ages.”
Lets take a closer look for ourselves:
Placed in the heart of Lincolnshire’s rural haven. | Photo: Fine & Country
You have no reason to worry about a lack of natural light in this home. | Photo: Fine & Country
The property spreads across three floors. | Photo: Fine & Country
Multiple seating areas are found around the house, offering ample guest space. | Photo: Fine & Country
A vast rooflight can be viewed from the top floor hallway while also shining light through to the home. | Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
Stylish to the very last detail, and the bathrooms are no different. | Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
All five bedrooms are designed to unique specifications. | Photo: Fine & Country
A fine sight to wake up to each morning. | Photo: Fine & Country
The current owners describe living in a Huf Haus as a “complete lifestyle”. | Photo: Fine & Country
Beautiful views from your top floor balcony area. | Photo: Fine & Country
Gym space on the basement level of the property. | Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
Police said they will continue to patrol the area
Sleaford Market Place. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
A fashion boutique in Sleaford said it wants “to act as a place of safety for any child who feels distressed or in danger” after claiming it continues to see “reports of school children being bullied or assaulted” in the town’s Market Place.
Bellissimo Boutique, which is also located in the Market Place, took to social media this week to air its views saying “we regularly see some awful things taking place,” whilst claiming that the local police and schools don’t appear to be taking action on the issue.
The Lincolnite contacted Lincolnshire Police for a response. The force said towards the end of the last school year it “engaged with the local school” and a letter was also sent out by Sergeant Stuart Mumby-Croft to parents prior to the summer holidays about speaking to children regarding “acceptable behaviour and ASB”.
Sergeant Mumby-Croft said the force has attended the Market Place on “several occasions and seen very few issues,” and that “mostly all we witness is youths in high spirits at the end of the day,” but they will continue to patrol the area.
Bellissimo Boutique’s social media post said: “Sadly, we continue to see reports of school children being bullied or assaulted in the the Market Place after school in the afternoons.
“The Market Place is a bit of a nightmare when the schools break up, causing the shops to either take in external signage or even close due to the bad behaviour and damage that takes place.
“We regularly see some awful things taking place, especially when there are new intakes with the younger children, but neither the schools nor the local police seem to take any action or show any interest.
“At Bellissimo Boutique in the Market Place, we are more than happy to act as a place of safety for any child who feels distressed or in danger.
“They can come in to the shop and we will ensure that they are cared for and that they can safely contact an adult to come and collect them, and we don’t mind them waiting in the shop until someone can come and get them.
“No child should feel that they are alone or that no one will help them, so please do let your children know to simply come into the shop and ask for help.”
Sergeant Stuart Mumby-Croft, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “We did see some reports of school children fighting and causing minor disturbances in the Marketplace towards the end of the last school year prior to the summer holidays.
“We engaged with the local school whose pupil’s most commonly attend the area after school and have been identified as causing some issues and we also sent a letter out from myself to all parents prior to the summer holidays about speaking to their children about acceptable behaviour and ASB.
“We have attended the Marketplace on several occasions and seen very few issues. Mostly all we witness is youths in high spirits at the end of the day.
“The reality is that in a small town with a compact and busy town centre, this remains the only practicable place for a large number of school buses to collect children at the end of the day and so there will always inevitably be an influx of children into the area, the overwhelming majority of whom behave themselves with no issues.
“We will continue to patrol the area and keep liaising with the local schools as is appropriate.”