What It's Like to Work as the Queen of England

Image credit: Raph_PH/Flickr

Queen Elizabeth II works very hard at her job. In fact, she only takes two days off throughout the year on Good Friday and Christmas Day. That means she has been on the job for 363 days out of 365, since the day she ascended to the throne. And consider the fact that she's already 93 years old, which means she has been working for nearly 70 years and shows no signs of stopping any time soon, that is truly an amazing feat of tenacity and dedication. But then again, that's the job of a royal.

This week Her Majesty presided over the Order of the Garter service. It is a deeply ceremonial occasion that sees senior members of the royal family including Princes Charles and William, along with 24 personally chosen knights don blue velvet capes, blingy gold chains and feathered caps for a sort of noble dress-up day at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

It is a day steeped in pomp and ritual and which dates back to 1348. The service has been held annually since 1948 which means that the Queen has overseen 67 of these feathered, fancy shindigs in her role as Sovereign of the Garter.

Compared to her contemporaries, the queen is probably the most steadfast and unrelenting head of state we have today. She has seen several wars and various events that shook the world, politically, economically, and even culturally. But she has stayed pretty unfazed through them all.

And though one might think that her job only consists of meeting and having tea with dignitaries, diplomats, and other important people, it's not an easy job for one person. To have to sit through every gala, party, or event and make small talk would be draining for anyone but the Queen's resolve is unwavering which makes her all the more admirable. Perhaps, a trait that's not as common in diplomats, officials, or even in heads of state nowadays.

Not only that but the Queen also has to deal with tons of paperwork and to review foreign policies so as to keep abreast with all the latest developments in the world. Not to mention she has to be up to date with everything that's going on in her own country, what with all the Brexit brouhaha and other domestic matters. All in all, the Queen is a powerhouse, one of the last remaining monarchs of a bygone age, yet still able to adapt and cope with the fast-paced movement of the world.

By Jeremiah