SALISBURY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks with staff during a visit to. It’s important to stay relevant and relatable to those with whom you are trying to connect. Bond.” And then there was the Jubilee appearance with Paddington Bear, for whom she pulled a marmalade sandwich from her purse. Her longtime dresser, Angela Kelly, said it took five minutes for her royal highness to decide to do the stunt, requesting only that she say the line, “Good Evening Mr. The queen tapped out her first tweet in 2014 and pulled off a famous parachuting stunt with Daniel Craig at the 2012 London Olympics. She understood she could either embrace change or become irrelevant. Just think about how much life changed, and technology evolved, during the queen’s 70-year reign. Remember: Take the time to understand what you did wrong so the next time you can do it better. Fast forward to the woman who became known as the “comforter-in-chief” at moments of crisis like the horrific 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, where she and her grandson, William, comforted residents. The queen failed to read the mood of her people and was chastised. Perhaps the best example was when she stayed at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after Princess Diana’s death. But she was adept at acknowledging mishaps and learning from them. That leaves little room for others to take your story and turn it into something it isn’t. Her trick? Keep your emotions in check despite the chaos try not to take sides, but acknowledge and listen to all points of view be empathetic and choose your words very carefully. Dragging her feet then, perhaps in hopes there might be a happier ending, backfired.īy the time her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, decided to leave their royal duties, the queen was older, wiser, and seemed to stay above the fray. That wasn’t true back when she let time linger for her sister Margaret’s marriage aspirations and for the ultimate divorce between her son, Prince Charles, and his first wife, Princess Diana. And over time she became adept at controlling aspects of the story to prevent things from getting too far out of her control. Queen Elizabeth II had scandals to navigate. And make sure you do your homework so you are prepared.
Show up early, whether your meeting is in person or virtual. She believed that being late showed a disregard for another person’s time and implied that you think yourself to be more important (even though she probably was!). The queen was a stickler for being on time and being prepared. Of course, there are times when it’s perfectly OK to share your opinion or take a stand just make sure you know your audience well. 11, 2001: “Grief is the price we pay for love,” she said.
A prime example: When speaking at Gild Hall in London to celebrate her 40th year on the throne, she said the year had been “Annus Horribilis,” referring to family separations, divorce, and a fire at her beloved Windsor Castle.Īs a New Yorker, I will never forget her words to America after Sept.
And she knew when it was OK to get personal.
She rarely shared her views on political matters, didn’t take sides in policy debates, and kept her opinions private. Queen Elizabeth II was not looking to make enemies, or waves.