Tapsell: The success of the Commonwealth will be the Queen

Tapsell: The success of the Commonwealth will be the Queen’s legacy

Tapsell: The success of the Commonwealth will be the Queen’s legacy

Father of the house Peter Tapsell, giving his own speech on the Queen for her sixtieth year as head of state:

"For my generation, the abiding memory of our Queen is her stunning beauty when she came to the throne. There is nothing more inspiring in the whole world than a beautiful woman."

"Although always impeccably attentive to her duties in the United Kingdom, she threw herself, with wholehearted energy and commitment, into a new world role as the Head of the Commonwealth.

"She has visited nearly every member of it, many of them tens of times, from the north Atlantic to the south Pacific.

"I believe that future historians will record that the impetus and character that she has uniquely given to the Commonwealth will be remembered as her greatest achievement.

"How fortunate we have been to be reigned over for 60 years by a lady of such poise, grace and beauty—the exemplary daughter of an enchanting mother."