WE have just marked two years since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. That milestone prompted me to look back on that period in 2022, and on the two years we have had since.

For most of us, we literally had never known a time when the late Queen had not been our national figurehead. She had always been there.

It seems strange that the loss of a single person could trigger such a sense of national anxiety and soul searching, but after 70 years on the throne, the longest reigning monarch in our history had left an indelible mark on our consciousness. 

Two years on, we have become accustomed to our new King and Queen, Charles and Camilla, and the country has grown fond of them.

It must surely be a testament to her late majesty’s dedication to her role and her determination to secure the future of the monarchy that her successor has taken to the throne so easily and confidently.

There were some who felt the Queen had in effect become the institution itself, and that her passing would mark the natural end of more than a thousand years of British royal history. These last few years have proved that in fact her legacy was a monarchy which continues to be a strong and invaluable presence within our national life. 

The monarch’s connections to the country span all of the regions and nations, and Queen Elizabeth maintained a close link to Devon and our local communities throughout her life. It was at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth that she first met her future husband, Prince Philip. 

Even before her accession, she toured Devon and Cornwall in the late 1940s, including making a public address in Exeter to mark the rebuilding of the town after the damage of the war. She visited the county regularly, including on the tours which accompanied her silver, golden and diamond jubilees. 

I myself was privileged to have a small connection to her late majesty as a result of my position in Cabinet in 2019.

As Leader of the House of Commons under Theresa May’s premiership, I was also Lord President of the Council, the presiding officer of the Privy Council.

In that position I was lucky enough to interact with the Queen as part of Privy Council proceedings. There are many thousands of people all over the country who will also have stories of times they met or even just caught a glimpse of her, and will remember it for the rest of their lives, the feeling of connection with history that it brings. That is the power of monarchy. 

As we look to the future, I feel confident we are in safe hands. The Queen’s passing came just days after a change of Prime Minister.

Recently we have had a complete change of government. But while politicians come and go and events move along, our monarch’s provide stability and continuity. In an uncertain world, that is something we should cherish.