“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong.”
These are the words that Queen Elizabeth II, a royal Princess at the time, pledged on her 21st birthday in 1947.
Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II had to make countless decisions – as a monarch, as a leader, as a mother, and more. It seems that at any crossroads, she returned to the pledge she made at the age of 21.
She knew her purpose, she was anchored by this pledge and the duty bestowed on her. And, despite pressures from all directions over the years, she remained steadfast to it.
Contentment with your work-life balance, I’ve observed, often comes down to knowing your purpose. The expectations of duty can both weigh heavy as a burden, and offer untold security and direction. Work-life balance choices (whether they involve embracing or extricating from such duties) settle easier when they are intentional, and when a person accepts them as a deliberate choice. The opposite can result in feeling dissatisfied, frustrated and continually guilty.
The working life of a monarch is a world away from the working lives of most of the rest of us, but perhaps there is something relatable in that.
Last night I visited the floral tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and joined the crowd on The Mall, looking towards Buckingham Palace, as the nation paused for 2 minutes’ silence.
The atmosphere was calm, revered and unifying. What an unforgettable historic moment to witness.