Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.

That Prince Philip was Queen Elizabeth II’s “strength and stay” came to memorialize their relationship. This article shows that the Queen’s now familiar words in fact are those of the great British poet, John Milton (1608-1674), from his epic retelling of the biblical Fall, Paradise Lost (1667/1674...

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Main Author: Philippa Earle
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Winchester University Press 2024-12-01
Series:Royal Studies Journal
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Online Access:https://account.rsj.winchester.ac.uk/index.php/wu-j-rsj/article/view/441
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author Philippa Earle
author_facet Philippa Earle
author_sort Philippa Earle
collection DOAJ
description That Prince Philip was Queen Elizabeth II’s “strength and stay” came to memorialize their relationship. This article shows that the Queen’s now familiar words in fact are those of the great British poet, John Milton (1608-1674), from his epic retelling of the biblical Fall, Paradise Lost (1667/1674). Appreciating how and why Elizabeth integrates the quotation from Paradise Lost in the Golden Wedding anniversary speech (20 November, 1997) sheds light on the value of literature and Milton’s poem, specifically, to the Queen’s diplomacy after the death of Princess Diana. The Queen’s immediate response to the tragedy, she came to understand, made the monarchy’s future precarious. In consequence of the public reaction and a series of royal humiliations prior, Queen Elizabeth alludes to, and further, adopts in the Golden Wedding speech the reconciliatory humility of Milton’s Eve; the character who, through “fault / Acknowledged” appeals to her “strength and stay” (PL 10.938-939, 921). This article ultimately argues that, by establishing a Miltonic diplomacy in the Golden Wedding speech, the Queen cleverly encompasses and solidifies both her private, political, and public relationships in the nuptial symbolism of the occasion.
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spelling doaj-art-765a7c2be7c64db89b1eaebdd6f7cdbb2025-08-20T01:58:12ZdeuWinchester University PressRoyal Studies Journal2057-67302024-12-01112 Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.Philippa Earle0Independent Scholar, Research Associate of the University of Exeter That Prince Philip was Queen Elizabeth II’s “strength and stay” came to memorialize their relationship. This article shows that the Queen’s now familiar words in fact are those of the great British poet, John Milton (1608-1674), from his epic retelling of the biblical Fall, Paradise Lost (1667/1674). Appreciating how and why Elizabeth integrates the quotation from Paradise Lost in the Golden Wedding anniversary speech (20 November, 1997) sheds light on the value of literature and Milton’s poem, specifically, to the Queen’s diplomacy after the death of Princess Diana. The Queen’s immediate response to the tragedy, she came to understand, made the monarchy’s future precarious. In consequence of the public reaction and a series of royal humiliations prior, Queen Elizabeth alludes to, and further, adopts in the Golden Wedding speech the reconciliatory humility of Milton’s Eve; the character who, through “fault / Acknowledged” appeals to her “strength and stay” (PL 10.938-939, 921). This article ultimately argues that, by establishing a Miltonic diplomacy in the Golden Wedding speech, the Queen cleverly encompasses and solidifies both her private, political, and public relationships in the nuptial symbolism of the occasion. https://account.rsj.winchester.ac.uk/index.php/wu-j-rsj/article/view/441Elizabeth IIdiplomacyMiltonParadise LostPrince Philip1997
spellingShingle Philippa Earle
 Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.
Royal Studies Journal
Elizabeth II
diplomacy
Milton
Paradise Lost
Prince Philip
1997
title  Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.
title_full  Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.
title_fullStr  Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.
title_full_unstemmed  Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.
title_short  Miltonic Diplomacy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Wedding Speech.
title_sort nbsp miltonic diplomacy in queen elizabeth ii s golden wedding speech
topic Elizabeth II
diplomacy
Milton
Paradise Lost
Prince Philip
1997
url https://account.rsj.winchester.ac.uk/index.php/wu-j-rsj/article/view/441
work_keys_str_mv AT philippaearle nbspmiltonicdiplomacyinqueenelizabethiisgoldenweddingspeech