Happy Birthday to Elizabeth II – Our Feminist Queen.
This week, celebrating her 92nd birthday, QEII continues to work, undertaking public duties.
Her lifelong dedication to her role, beyond the call of duty, is legendary. Perhaps even more extraordinary, when it comes to this incredible woman, is her history of leading change for women from the front. For almost a century she’s been a tireless advocate for female empowerment and women’s rights.
Known as the ‘No-Nonsense Monarch’, she became a truck mechanic during WWII in The Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. Typical of her refusal to adhere to the gender stereo-typing so prevalent in the day. A woman who’s known for rolling her sleeves up and getting her hands dirty.
She oversaw the change of the royal rules of succession. For the first time allowing an eldest girl to inherit the throne.
Whilst Queen Victoria was quoted as saying ‘Feminists ought to get a good whipping’ her great-great granddaughter, our QEII, has quietly approved of women’s rights. Her recognition and approval have been powerful allies to the feminist cause.
In 1998, when women were prohibited from driving, Saudi’s King Abdullah offered to take her for a spin in his new Land Rover. He soon realised he’d bitten off more than he could chew as he was whizzed around as our No-Nonsense Queen took the wheel, chattered and terrified him. Driving like the wind, with confidence she’d earned during her time behind the wheel in WWII.
“There has been significant economic and social change since 1915. Women have been granted the vote, British women have climbed Everest for the first time and the country has elected its first female prime minister.” She added: “In the modern world, the opportunities for women to give something of value to society are greater than ever, because, through their own efforts, they now play a much greater part in all areas of public life.”
A woman’s woman, her telling words at the 2015 centenary celebrations of the Women’s Institute (of which she has been a member since 1943)
Happy Birthday QEII. May this week see you relaxing, celebrating surrounded by family, your beloved horses and enjoying a right royal tipple of your favourite Scotch Whisky!
