Return to Transcripts main page
Amanpour
DID NOT AIR LIVE: U.K. Loss a Great Monarch; Queen Elizabeth II Kept Her Promise; The Queen Showed Her Strength Through Calmness; United Kingdom Prepares for a Change. Aired 1-2p ET
Aired September 08, 2022 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DID NOT AIR LIVE
[13:00:00]
POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Guest, Annie, this is still on, not -- I'm not, this --
UNKNOWN: One, two, three, four, five.
HARLOW: Simon, it's Poppy Harlow and Cristiane.
SIMON SCHAMA, HISTORIAN: Hi.
HARLOW: Hi, thank you very much for your patience as well. I was just getting sorted here.
SCHAMA: It's a big moment.
HARLOW: What a day. We're so glad to have you on a day like this. Thank you.
SCHAMA: Thank you. Welcome.
HARLOW: Be with you in just a Moment.
[13:05:08]
UNKNOWN: I can do that Michelle. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10.
UNKNOWN: Yes.
HARLOW: Hello, everyone. Welcome to Amanpour. Here is what's coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, FORMER QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted
to your service, and to the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch has died. Her name synonymous with stability and with duty. Her legacy unparalleled,
the lifetime of service to her people in Britain and beyond. In this special hour we look at the monarch's incredible reign.
Welcome to the program, everyone. I'm so glad you're with us. I'm Poppy Harlow in New York in for Christiane Amanpour.
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch has died. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said, quote, "the Queen died peacefully at
Balmoral this afternoon." That is her estate in Scotland. Her family came to her side, including heir to the throne, Charles succeeding the queen as
king.
And people around the world will be mourning an extraordinary figure, the Queen a symbol of stability and order far beyond Britain's border sovereign
to 15 countries, and having lived through 14 U.S. presidents recently marking 70 years of service to her people with her Platinum Jubilee.
We now look back at her life and a remarkable seven decades on the throne.
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Britain's Queen Elizabeth II crowned at Westminster Abbey on June the 2nd, 1953.
This was the first time the public was able to witness this sacrosanct moment. Elizabeth had allowed live television cameras in to capture it in a
powerful signal that this was a new, open and relevant monarchy. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary known as Lilibeth to friends, was born on April the 21st,
1926. It was only a decade later that she knew she was truly destined to lead an empire. It was a fluke of history, a work of scandal.
UNKNOWN: A few hours ago, I discharged my last duty as king and Emperor.
FOSTER: Her uncle, Edward abdicated to marry the love of his life, Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, and therefore, spoiler to the throne.
Elizabeth's father became king, she was the accidental heir, which entrenched in her a sense of duty. She was devout, almost spiritual about
her responsibilities as a royal even before being crowned.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and to the service
of our great imperial family, to which we all belong.
UNKNOWN: I seem to remember having -- having listened to that speech. And remember, I remember very well, I certainly remember reading it not solely,
but not many years later, the way she dedicated her life to the country. And that was on the example, which I very much felt that when I grew older
that that was -- that was what it was about. You dedicate your life to your country.
FOSTER: On November the 20th, 1947, she wed her childhood sweetheart, the tall and dashing Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, titled the Duke of
Edinburgh. The following year, their marriage bore Elizabeth's heir, Prince Charles. For more than half a century, the Queen led her empire before
overseeing its managed decline, as it became known as the commonwealth, an association of now independent countries.
[13:10:07]
UNKNOWN: Sir Winston and Lady Churchill came to receive her majesty.
FOSTER: Her first prime minister was Winston Churchill. During her rule, she met every acting U.S. president by one, meetings that she always
prioritized.
UNKNOWN: She remembers learning from her parents how important keeping America on sideboards during the war and then America came into the war.
She remembers that so well, she remembers, you know, the American troops D- Day all that. To her, it's -- it's very, it's a very important part of her growing up.
FOSTER: Whilst the British monarch has no political power, Elizabeth wielded immense power as a figurehead, as demonstrated in 2011 when she
became the first monarch to visit neighboring Ireland since its separation from the United Kingdom.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: We can all see things which we would wish --
FOSTER: Then Prime Minister David Cameron described the trip as a game changer in Anglo Irish relations. A year later, the Queen traveled to
Belfast in another significant moment of her reign, and historic handshake with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness, a public symbol of peace
following decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
There was nonetheless a very private side to this wife, mother and grandmother, stiff upper lipped in public, and so guarded, there's little
footage to show the sense of humor she's reputed to have displayed behind closed doors.
On occasion, she did open up with uncharacteristic candor and emotion. The Queen herself marked 1992 as a very bad year.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: It just turned out to be an annus horribilis.
FOSTER: Punctuated by several family splits and a fire at her beloved Windsor Castle. Three of her four children would divorce, Charles most
famously. And then that crash.
UNKNOWN: We are just getting word that the French government has informed all of us that Princess Diana has died.
FOSTER: The royal families restrained response collided with a British public convulsing in heartache. Elizabeth learned a tough lesson through
all of the grief. She wasn't merely a mother or a grandmother rather a queen to a people no matter what.
An enduring image the Queen baring her head to Princess Diana's coffin, marking a sad period for the royal family, Britain and its relationship
with the monarchy.
Over more than a decade, however, public faith in the royal family did rebuild. The queen was visibly thrilled by the show of support for the
royal wedding between her grandson William and partner Kate in 2011.
Then the following year, polls show the British royal family at the height of their popularity as the queen celebrated 60 years on the throne. She
used her diamond jubilee to present a slimmed down monarchy, only the key royals paraded and waved a sign of a more economic family for the 21st
century.
In later years, the queen welcomed several additions to the family, including Prince George, her first great grandson and future heir to the
throne. Born in 2013 to the then duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Reflecting the modern age, Prince Harry later married Meghan Markel, the royal family
extending again to embrace an actress with African-American ancestry. In time, welcoming baby Archie.
Prince Philip retired from public duties in 2017. Meanwhile, the queen continued indefatigable. She gradually slowed her busy schedule, certainly
in terms of travel, but in September 2015, whilst opening a new railway in Scotland without ceremony or commemorative fireworks, Queen Elizabeth II
passed her revered predecessor, Victoria, to become Britain's longest reigning monarch.
Controversy visited the family again in 2019 as the queen's second son, Prince Andrew gave an ill-advised interview to the BBC amid allegations of
sexual misconduct.
PRINCE ANDREW, DUKE OF YORK: I'll let the side down.
FOSTER: Any hopes for a quieter year ahead were dashed when Harry and Meghan, the duke and Duchess of Sussex made a shocking announcement at the
start of 2020.
UNKNOWN: This is the last time they'll be walking into the abbey.
FOSTER: Giving up their public roles and duties, they moved to North America with a mission to become financially independent. Crisis talks and
another contentious interview soon followed.
[13:14:59]
In 2021, at the age of 99, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away. Senior royals attended the funeral scale back due to coronavirus to
celebrate his seven decades of service and mourn the passing of a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
UNKNOWN: We therefore pray --
FOSTER: Elizabeth stood alone, as she watched his coffin lower into the royal vault in Windsor. Bidding farewell to her husband of 73 years, the
man she described as her strength and stay.
She will be remembered as one of the great monarchs able to hand a strengthened crown to her heir, despite raining over a period of tumultuous
change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: The queen recently celebrated her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years of service to her people. And now, to hear much more about just an
extraordinary life and extraordinary monarch and extraordinary woman, I'm pleased to be joined by historian Simon Schama.
Simon, thank you. It's so important to have your voice on a day like today.
SCHAMA: Well, it's -- hello, Polly (Ph). It's a moment that fits very awkwardly with television. I think actually, you know, television cool
medium. I -- I'm quite sure I speak for millions of people in this country who are feeling orphaned, really bereft. The queen was 96. You know, it was
it was always going to happen.
Nonetheless, there was something about her durability, which put us all in denial about that, I think. And now that -- now that it has, I think we're
a bit disoriented. I mean, in a peculiar way, the measure of her success at actually being the head of a royal family of actually succeeding in this,
you know, strange fiction that with a monarchy or part of an enormously extended family, that the -- the effect is that that you feel that the most
important member of this enormous family has now gone.
So, everybody, nearly everybody, I think is grieving, dismayed. Just, you know, a bit awash in sorrows suddenly very chilly out there.
HARLOW: When she was born, she certainly never expected to be coronated at 27 years old, and she dedicated her life then to Britain. She was a rock.
She was stable always. And I'm so struck by the words of one of her former secretaries, Simon Lewis, who said, she's as constant as the North Star.
And think about how much she --
SCHAMA: Yes.
HARLOW: -- how much she lives through and led through, when we think about huge events in the world, the assassination of President Kennedy, Martin
Luther King, Jr., the first man on the moon, the Berlin Wall, 9/11, on and on and on, and she was this constant.
SCHAMA: I -- they -- it is remarkable, you put it very well, I think you have to remember that her sense of public service was formed in the 1930s,
which is a terrifying period. Terrifying politically, you know, not clear at the beginning whether Britain would emerge as a victory in the war. But
above all, actually, of course, she was deeply affected by the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII, which propelled her father, George VI, to be
king.
So, in a way, there were two members of the -- of her immediate family, her uncle and her father, neither of which wish to be king. George VI, her
father, was exceptionally shy.
He suffered as some many of you probably know from this brutal stammer, nonetheless, he took on the role of king, he smoked himself pretty much to
death, leaving this young daughter with this heavy responsibility.
And so, I think this sort of almost devotional sense she had that she could provide a kind of center of gravity to a country which went through all
kinds of trials and traumas was very important to her.
If you -- here's a professorial note for you, Polly (Ph). One thinks of the other very long lived, she was the long longest reigning monarch, but Queen
Elizabeth I, t her namesake, Queen Victoria, and even George III who lost the -- lost America were very long reign.
[13:19:51]
But in each case, when those monarchs died, despite the loss of the American colonists, essentially, we're talking about Britain as a rising
power, the -- when they died, Britain was more powerful, richer, more outgoing, more prosperous, more adventurous than it had been when they came
to the throne.
In Queen Elizabeth II's case, she presided over period, not just of extraordinary turmoil, the Cold War, the terror of nuclear annihilation,
and all the rest of it. She presided over an empire that was vanishing had to be replaced somehow by the commonwealth, and presided over a contracting
realm, however you put it, Britain in search managed entity into Europe, out of Europe, no more empire is the commonwealth a real thing. So, it
became disproportionately crucial that she was the center of gravity. She was a kind of non-political embodiment of what a national community could
be.
HARLOW: It is striking in such a divided world at the moment that she was not a divisive character at all. Right? And I think that --
SCHAMA: Right.
HARLOW: -- that's important to note at a moment like this. She was -- she was so beloved, her approval rating 86 percent.
SCHAMA: Yes. Yes. I mean, I think, you know, it was very important that she kept very closely to the obligation not to express political opinions.
There were moments of course, when she did go out on the limb, famously one of the Chris -- one of the Christmas messages, not all were absolutely
anodyne. But she actually said that one of the great problems in the world was the division between, you know, those countries in the world which were
less fortunate, and those which were more fortunate.
And she got to kind of rap on the knuckles. Margaret Thatcher didn't particularly like that. It was thought to be for once in her reign, once in
her life going beyond the brief of being absolutely almost religiously neutral. But that that's, you know, I think -- I think particularly now,
when so much of the currency of politics is about abuse, and demonization, and screaming and shouting and calling people with whom you don't agree,
enemies, in some way.
The notion that that there could be an embodiment of the country entirely, really without an ego adventure. People really -- this is not to say there
aren't Republicans in Britain, there certainly are, but they're not -- they're not very substantial group.
People responded, I think instinctively, really, and still have done at to the end about someone who's fundamentally not alienated at all, for the
projection of their own vanity at all.
I mean, I saw her, I remember, I was lucky, my wife and I were lucky enough to be on the royal barge during the diamond jubilee in 2012.
HARLOW: Wow.
SCHAMA: And if you remember it, Polly (Ph).
HARLOW: Yes.
SCHAMA: But it was one of those classic English made days in May in which was not only pouring with rain, it was bloody freezing cold, the rain was
coming in at one point horizontally, but there were hundreds of thousands of people lining the Thames. There were every kind of small and big boats
and this kind of parade down the Thames.
And the Queen and Prince Philip just stood there. They -- they had a little canopied sort of, you know, river -- river boat thrones, but those thrones
were puddles. So, they just stood there. And I looked at her, you know, hour after hour, and I thought, why would anyone in their right mind want
to do this? And you know, the answer is, as she said she would, and she -- and she kept her that.
HARLOW: Yes. That's -- that's exactly right. I'd love to read to everyone the statement we just got from her son, will be the king, Charles will be
the king.
SCHAMA: Who is the king already.
HARLOW: Who is the king. And let me read to you what -- what he said, just a few -- a few lines here from him. The death of my beloved mother, her
majesty, the queen, is a moment of greatest -- of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a
cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply --
SCHAMA: Sorry. Thank you.
HARLOW: -- felt through -- throughout the country, the realms of the commonwealth and by countless people around the world. During this period
of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the queen was so
widely held.
My question to you, Simon, is how do they now, the entire family, how do they carry that legacy forward and honor what she did in her service for
seven decades?
SCHAMA: Well, they will -- they will do their best. You know, I mean, one of the things which is very important about the British monarchy, I
suppose, all modern monarchy is that is that apart from being a constitutional institution of political -- of complete political
neutrality, it also has to be a royal family.
[13:25:03]
That was actually, you know, something invented by largely by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. But it's difficult. It's difficult to do, as
we've seen from the queen's own family. Three of her children have been divorced and so on. But there is -- there is and you know, not a year goes
by without some trouble on the family side, sometimes catastrophic trouble, you know, as with the collapse marriage of Charles and Diana and Diana's
hideously tragic death.
But this is a time really when you would expect there to be the family itself to come together and for the country to respond to that. I think
interestingly, you know, King Charles, as he now is, has had one great cause for at least 30, if not more years, and that's the environment, you
know, the physical state of the earth, climate change.
And I think he'll be very tempted, and I think that -- it's my -- can you hear me? Can you hear me, Poppy? Sorry, I've lost the earpiece.
HARLOW: I can, but -- but do me a favor, it's over your shoulder?
SCHAMA: It is.
HARLOW: Yes.
SCHAMA: I've got it. I've got it. I've got it.
HARLOW: Yes, and with the --
SCHAMA: Yes, I've got it. I've got it. OK.
HARLOW: There we go.
SCHAMA: OK, there we go. There we go. Sorry. Yes, I think -- I think, though, you know, that King Charles would be very tempted to, as he has for
a long time as prince of Wales, not to be restrained by having public comments on the state of the world, not at all to do with elections or
political parties. But the face of the earth, it's been a passion of his. And I'm sure -- I'm sure that will be part of it again.
But there'll be a very nice tricky calculation as to whether or not it's in the best interests of the survival of the monarchy to be as rigidly
impartial as the queen was or to occasionally say his piece.
HARLOW: That's a very important question. And something he will --
SCHAMA: Yes.
HARLOW: -- he will ultimately decide. And we will -- we will soon see. Simon, walk us through, our viewers, through now what, the tradition of the
funeral, what happens now?
SCHAMA: Well, there will be a lying in state, of course. And, you know, there'll be a -- there'll be a state funeral. So, there'll be a procession
through London. Millions of people are going to pay their respects. It will be done with a kind of simple gravity, really. And you know, that -- that
will -- there is something simply about the majesty of the ceremony itself, which will enable the country to be able to deal with this.
But I think actually, you know, the emotional loss, the sense of psychological upheaval, the sense of being orphaned into a world without
the queen will kind of, it'll test the ability of ceremonies and symbols and the continuity of English history. In a way, of course, the very long
reign of Elizabeth II, was a reassuring echo, if you like, of the extraordinary long history of this country.
So, her passing, you know, will just make the sense of where do we go now even more acute. Remember, you know, the government of Scotland is
committed to a referendum, whether or not it's able to do so constitutionally or legally, whether, but it's committed to a referendum to
decide whether or not Scotland wants to leave the union.
So, you know, after a period of grief, all these sorts of issues about with her, Britain, will, you know, will be paramount. It is of course, an
extraordinary baptism of fire for the new prime minister. I can't stop thinking, I'm no particular part of that of the new prime minister, as
people may know, but I can't help thinking there'll be something really about having a woman prime minister which will be in a way quite fitting
really, mourning a woman who has been to carry -- carried off this extraordinary feat of embodying the country without partisan bitterness at
all.
HARLOW: Well, Simon, thank you so much for being with us tonight. And for walking us through all of that and helping us remember just a remarkable
monarch and an unparalleled legacy that is for sure. We appreciate it very much.
SCHAMA: Thank you for asking me.
[13:29:50]
HARLOW: Well, one measure of the length of the queen's reign she met a dozen U.S. presidents as monarch, stretching from the 1950s through last
year. Max Foster shows us the history of this Trans-Atlantic relationship.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[13:30:05]
FOSTER: The special relationship, or a dozen special relationships.
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Ladies and gentlemen, to her majesty, the queen.
FOSTER: Queen Elizabeth met every sitting US president during her reign, except Lyndon B. Johnson. She also met President Harry Truman in 1951 when
she was still a princess. Joe Biden was the 12th and the last president to have the honor during her reign, and the first she would meet without her
husband Prince Philip by her side.
UNKNOWN: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were welcomed at the White House by the first lady at the beginning of a memorable visit to the
nation.
FOSTER: Starting with Dwight Eisenhower in 1957, Britain's monarchs or her fair share of administrative change, and the conversations invariably
remain private.
UNKNOWN: People really do respect the fact that this is a -- this is a genuinely private off-the-record conversations so they really can talk
about things and get to the heart of things in a very genuine fashion because they know it's not going to come out.
FOSTER: Does she ever let slip to you in any way.
UNKNOWN: Good gracious, of course not, of course not.
FOSTER: Well, known for their shared love of horses, Elizabeth took President Ronald Reagan horseback riding in Windsor in 1982.
UNKNOWN: This was not expected to happen, so --
FOSTER: His successor, President George H.W. Bush, brought the queen to her first baseball game at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore during a state visit
in 1991. Both Reagan and Bush were later given honoree knighthoods, the U.K.'s highest distinction.
REAGAN: I feel greatly honored.
FOSTER: In her later years, the queen stopped traveling abroad. Instead, leaders came to her, and when they did, the royal family rolled out the red
carpet in a regal display of British soft power.
President George W. Bush was the first U.S. president to pay an official state visit in 2003. And Bush was also the last to host the queen at the
White House in 2007. Pomp and pageantry did at times provide awkward moments, however, evident when President Trump as it says in 2018. He also
revealed the topic of their conversation, Brexit, which raised eyebrows too.
His predecessor, President Barack Obama, also committed a faux pax by speaking over the national anthem.
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The vitality of the special relationship between our peoples.
FOSTER: Yet these meetings have been a sign of the long-standing diplomatic friendship between the U.S. and the U.K., through which the
world's longest reigning monarch played a major role.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: To the continued friendship between our two nations, and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United
States.
FOSTER: Max Foster, CNN, Windsor, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: Max, thank you. And the White House has sent its condolences saying that our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the
queen. The queen was, of course Britain's top diplomat, and so much more. She represented 14 other nations as head of state, and few have had the
responsibility to safeguard the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States as the queen and my next guest.
Sir Kim Darroch is Britain's former ambassador to the United States. And he joins me from London.
Thank you, Ambassador.
And quite -- quite a sad moment that no one wanted to ever see come but it is here. And I would just like for you as someone who met the queen
yourself when you were ambassador to reflect on her life.
KIM DARROCH, FORMER BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Poppy, it's -- it's a really strange and profoundly sad feeling today because she was present,
she was monarch as long as I've been alive. And it feels like one of life's encourages one of the fixtures of the landscape has just has -- just gone
in -- in a few hours. And we should be in fading health for some time. But it still comes as an extraordinary shock when this news comes through.
But it just reminds you when you start to think about a contribution, what an extraordinary life this was. What an extraordinary woman she was, how
much she saw, how much she did through. And the more you think about it, the more you think how remarkable that contribution was. But gosh, also,
she really lived.
HARLOW: You are -- you, unlike many of our viewers, most of our viewers, most people in the world who didn't get to spend time with her, you did.
You spent time with her during your service. And I wonder what you can share with us about the woman perhaps many of us did not see.
[13:34:58]
DARROCH: I was honored enough, lucky enough. When you become an ambassador in the U.K. you get an audience with her majesty. I saw her twice when I
went to Brussels, to Washington. When I was the national security adviser, I also saw her a couple of times.
And two things stand out, Poppy. One was her extraordinary depth of knowledge about international affairs. I mean, she was absolutely razor
sharp up to the minute on what was going on. And had really sharp comments on -- on events that were unfolding. In parts, because she was, she had
extraordinary work ethic. And she would read a batch of foreign office telegrams around the world every morning. Every morning.
So, you'd better read your telegrams before you saw that she would certainly have done so. The other thing I remember about it is this wry
sense of humor, in private, absolute lack of sort of ceremony, or willing was to have a conversation and to laugh about things. Now I couldn't -- I'm
afraid, possibly repeat some of the anecdotes she would tell. But beneath that -- that exterior, the appropriate exterior for a monarch, there was a
really sharp sense of humor.
HARLOW: Thank you for sharing that with us. Here on the United States, Speaker Pelosi has ordered flags of the U.S. Capitol, to be flown at half-
staff due to her passing. And I wonder if you could speak to the special relationship, right, between the United States and the United Kingdom and
how critical that has been in an increasingly tumultuous and divided world.
DARROCH: Yes. First thing to say, probably on -- probably on this is that she was a deep believer in a special relationship. And very, very fond of
America. Felt very close to her. A very, very comfortable that she was in America. And I think part of that was, I mean, in that long, extraordinary
rich life before she actually became Queen Elizabeth II in her late teens and 20s, she lived through the Second World War.
She was actually an ambulance driver as part of that time in a London that was being bombed by the Nazis. And she knew, absolutely knew just how
important America was to Britain's survival in that period. But I think that -- that memory and that knowledge and appreciation stayed with her.
And she came to America as sovereign many times. I think she paid four state visits, five state dinners, as your clip beforehand said, I think she
met every American president from Truman, to Biden, with the exception of LBJ.
HARLOW: Yes.
DARROCH: And she, I know from, from speaking to her, that she followed American politics very closely. So, America was a big part of her -- of her
interests.
HARLOW: You know, what is striking to me on a day like today, and at a moment like this, is that we hear so much from -- from politicians, and she
was not a political figure, but a head of state. And every word of hers, Ambassador, seemed to have been chosen with such care. Isn't that right?
That everything she said was so deliberate, and therefore, it held so much meaning.
DARROCH: You know, her conduct of both her own very extensive travel overseas representing the United Kingdom, and her meetings, every many of
them with, with visiting heads of state and heads of government, a conduct during them, our handling of them was consummate. It was -- it was
flawless. And that's not easy. I tell you that's not easy.
And she obviously had huge experience. But right from day one she had this, this complete understanding of what was appropriate for a constitutional
monarch to do and say, and what was not. And that's how while sometimes controversy surged around other members of the royal family, she was
always, as I said, flawless in the way that she conducted, conducted her role.
[13:39:54]
HARLOW: As we think about the special relationship between the two nations. I mean, I remember well, 2001, I was here in New York, and I
recall what she did for the United States, she essentially broke royal tradition and requested that the Star-Spangled Banner be played at
Buckingham Palace after the terror attacks here on 9/11. And this was really seen as a strong sign just reaffirming the solidarity between the
United States and the U. Kingdom, was it not?
DARROCH: Absolutely. But you know, Poppy, if you lived through the blitz in London, as she did.
HARLOW: Sure.
DARROCH: You will know how America contributed at that time. And she would have looked for ways of demonstrating how much that relationship, a special
relationship meant to us in Britain. And it was -- it was an extraordinary way of doing it, but absolutely fitted with her, with her vision of where
United Kingdom and United States stood together.
HARLOW: The question now is, does the monarchy change? Obviously, she will no longer be the monarch. The king is Charles. And the question is, how do
you -- how do you foresee the monarchy itself changing, evolving? What do you expect?
DARROCH: I've been fortunate enough to meet with the prince of Wales now, Charles III. And I don't think any monarch in British history has been
better prepared what he's about to take on than he is. I mean, he's -- he's had a long time as a, as the heir apparent, and now has a duty. And I'm
very confident that he will fulfill it constantly.
But the monarchy is always changing, you know. I mean, if you look at how the royal family behaved and how much of what they did and said was public,
20, 30, 40 years ago, you will see how much has changed and evolved over the years and that will continue. And particularly with his championing of
environmental policies, Charles will translate, he will bring his own changes in, but I think he'll be very careful and successful not to cross
the line into -- into appearing to intervene in politics.
And then the next generation beyond that, William will also bring changes. So, I mean, you won't know until 10 years down the line, you will see what
the changes are. But the monarchy will continue to evolve and continue to be central in British life and will continue to represent us overseas.
HARLOW: Ambassador, thank you so much for your reflections, your memories, sharing the time that you've shared with her with all of us this evening.
Thank you.
DARROCH: Thank you, Poppy.
HARLOW: And as the ambassador just said, we are now learning that the new king will be called King Charles III. Prince William and Kate have taken
the title of duke and duchess of Cornwall. That title is previously held by Charles and Camilla.
And tonight, the new British prime minister, Liz Truss, has offered her thoughts on the queen's passing outside of Downing Street.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We are all devastated by the news that we have just heard from Balmoral. The death of her majesty the queen is a
huge shock to the nation, and to the world. Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished
under her reign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: And the queen despite having had large ceremonial powers was the steady reliable face of Britain, for 70 years, British journalist Walter
Bagehot famously wrote the Constitution needed two parts, the dignified and the efficient. Queen Elizabeth was arguably both only two days ago
appointing Liz Truss as prime minister.
My next guest is Alistair Burt, he is a former Conservative M.P., and he is joining me tonight from Sussex.
Thank you very much for your time.
And let's just start with your reflections on the life, the legacy of the woman who served as monarch for seven years.
ALISTAIR BURT, FORMER BRITISH CONSERVATIVE M.P.: Your previous guests have put it extremely well. And she was a remarkable figure. And all of us who
have been members of parliament, I was a member of parliament for 32 years. I was a government minister for 11 years, we recognized that we owed our
oath of allegiance to her not to a political figure. We didn't swear allegiance to the head of our party, or to the prime minister. We swore an
oath of allegiance in the House of Commons to her majesty the queen.
And this ability therefore to unite everyone to go beyond politics was of immense importance to the country as it went through the political changes
that it did. The United Kingdom of -- of today is almost unrecognizable from the United Kingdom of 1952, when her majesty became the queen. And she
has seen it through a variety of changes in our society that were unprecedented, and through it all her one constant figure, that ability of
someone to bring everyone together represent the whole of the United Kingdom has made her a unique figure.
And we mourn her loss very deeply. And we wish his majesty the king, and what a strange phrase that is for all of us now to say, we wish his majesty
the king, God bless.
HARLOW: Because you have never said that phrase for your entire life, Alistair.
BURT: No.
HARLOW: She has -- she has been. She has been the queen, as is the case for 80 percent of the British population.
BURT: Correct, Polly (Ph). None of us have ever sung God save the king. We've never seen that as a national anthem. So, all sorts of changes, our
postboxes will change, our stamps will change. All sorts of things like that, which of course are part of the fabric of the United Kingdom. So, we
will see changes there will be constitutional pressures. His majesty inherits a crown, which has done remarkably well but has weathered a lot of
pressures because of her abilities.
And its United Kingdom, which is under pressure from the different political parts of the United Kingdom, that may want to change the nature
of the United Kingdom, all sorts of things.
HARLOW: Yes.
BURT: But I think tonight, more than anything else people will remember will have their personal memories of her, either the many must be millions
of people who have met her majesty the queen over the years for their own selfless service in communities. To all of us, who also watched her on
television with the great occasions of state, the sporting events, the Olympics, all the different jubilee celebrations. We've all seen this
remarkable lady, and we all feel we know her.
HARLOW: That's such a good point. We all feel we know her. I mean, if you if you can believe it, I dressed up as, as her as a 10-year-old for
Halloween. I mean, that was the person that so many of us looked up to for so much of our lives. She really was.
You have said only history will reveal to what extent Elizabeth helped shape policy and you point to major moments, for example, her visit to
Germany in 1965, or welcoming Emperor Hirohito in 1971. Or Nelson Mandela, her relationship with him, her trip to Northern Ireland in 2012, so many
significant moments.
BURT: This is absolutely right. Her majesty recognized that she was a servant of, of the state and servant of the people. And a times of
reconciliation, in particular, her personal ability that Kim Darroch just spoke off, her recognition of so many people in contemporary history, she
knew them all, she knew all the world leaders, because they are all at some stage paid a visit to United Kingdom.
But that ability to reconcile for my generation, it's now a long time since the end of the Second World War, but her majesty's visit to Germany, so
relatively soon, perhaps less than 10 years after the end of the war must have -- must have been not the easiest of visits for her.
But particularly, in domestic British history, the relationship with Ireland has been so important, and for her majesty to make the visits to
Ireland, which she did, when the history of Britain and Ireland had been difficult. And England and Ireland had been difficult over the centuries.
But her personal reconciliation bearing in mind, she had lost members of her own family to terrorism.
But her ability to put that to one side was absolutely extraordinary, and made the modern relationship between the United Kingdom and Ireland one of
the closest relationships in Europe. Ireland was our best friend almost in the European Union. Her ability to reconcile was marvelous, and that she
knew what she could do for the state.
[13:49:55]
And I do know having been on visits with his majesty, King Charles, I do know he shares the same sense. He's well briefed. He knows -- he knows the
international scene very well. I'm absolutely certain he will be carrying that very special nature of reconciliation on.
HARLOW: President Biden and the first lady have just issued a long statement remembering her and honoring her. And I'm struck, in part they
write that she was more than a monarch. She defined an era. And that's so true, isn't it? She defined an era. How do you think she defined it?
BURT: She defined it because it, if you think about history in the past, how slowly history moved for the generations of British monarchs, the world
moved more slowly. Her Elizabethan time moved incredibly picked, incredibly fast. Modern communications, the way in which the world works, the nature
of relationships between states, the reconciliation at the end of the Second War, the Cold War issues, the world is very different.
The commonwealth that our prime minister spoke so movingly about just a few moments ago, which grew from the end of empire, the change of relationship
of the United Kingdom with many states in the world, a past that has now shadows because of its nature, but transformed into the Commonwealth, which
her majesty was able to play such a significant part in.
It's this, I think -- I think her ability to be part of change, and yet exude an air of continuity, because of what she represented and who she
was. That was a unique combination in history. And I think it is that particular ability to shape the time during which she lived, which will
probably be one of her most enduring legacies.
HARLOW: Her death comes at a very uncertain time in the United Kingdom, a very uncertain winter ahead. Real concern for so many British people about
affordability, energy costs, on and on. And a brand-new prime minister was just days ago that she asked Liz Truss to officially formally asked her to
form a government. How do you, how are you feeling this news received by the British people at a moment like this.
BURT: The death is, of course, always sad and shocking, no matter when it comes. But of course, the United Kingdom is prepared. Her majesty had lived
a long life. And everyone knows that are long life does come to an end. But the symmetry, as you say, with a change in British politics is, you know,
makes her majesty's passing even more remarkable.
It is less than 48 hours ago that she was able to perform her constitutional duty to accept the new prime minister and give her the
invitation to form a government. Her first act when she became queen, when she returned from her visit to Africa was to greet Winston Churchill, her
first prime minister.
Her last constitutional act was to greet the 15th. That really is -- is extraordinary. But it marks a sea change for the United Kingdom. Yes, we
have a new politics with a new prime minister. I thought the prime minister spoke very well this evening from Downing Street. And she made it very
clear that she believed her majesty was the rock on which modern Britain was built. I think that's a good phrase, because that embodies all the
changes that we've seen, that her majesty has lived through.
And I think Keir Starmer also said today that she was the head of us all, but also part of us. And I think those two good statements from our
political leader suggests that a time of crisis will be an element of coming together, which the nation will welcome. With politics being as
polarized and divided, as it often is, it will be a moment in which we can see what we can all achieve together.
And I hope that will lead to a renewed commitment from everyone in public service to do as much as we can to support the country in our various ways
over such a what will be a tough winter, and that her majesty embodies a spirit of Britain that had overcome so much more from her own life again.
Again, as Kim Darroch said from serving in the war herself, to seeing the country through many difficult times after that. So, the country will do so
again, remembering the example that her majesty said.
[13:54:55]
HARLOW: Yes. That is so beautifully said. A reminder of what can be accomplished when everyone comes together for a common cause. Alistair,
thank you very much for your reflections tonight.
BURT: Thanks very, very much, indeed. Thank you.
HARLOW: Well, on the throne for seven decades Queen Elizabeth II became one of the most photographed people in the world. Her image appears on
everything from the British currency, as you just heard Alistair say to stamps, to souvenir plates, to postcards, and tea towels and on and on.
Nick Glass has a look at some of the many photographs chronicling her majesty's life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK GLASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once upon a time, in a story we had forgotten or some never knew, there was a beautiful young princess.
At the age of just 27, she was crowned the queen in a fairy tale ceremony. Long before anyone had heard of Katherine or Diana, there was Elizabeth, a
star from the very beginning, and the regal unflagging presence in our lives ever since.
UNKNOWN: Looking at the visual images of the queen across 60 years is an extraordinary thing to do. I think she is the most visually represented
human being ever to have existed in the entire history of the world. I cannot think who the rival is. So that of itself is utterly extraordinary.
GLASS: Alongside, of course, all that pageantry and solemnity that comes with being a British monarch, and of course, the occasional revelation that
it's raining outside.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: How surprising.
UNKNOWN: I think her humanity really comes through in a lot of these photographs, and also her -- her amazing ability to engage with people.
GLASS: The formal image of fairytale princess was established early by Cecil Beaton.
UNKNOWN: He was very keen to place her in that long and great tradition of fairy tale queens and princesses. And so, he uses these beautiful backdrops
based on well-known Rococo paintings.
GLASS: Time magazine put her on the front cover at age three. And again in 1947, a diamond princess about to turn 21, they simply couldn't get enough
of her. Her face and her story sold magazines and books.
UNKNOWN: There was an awful lot of attention on her. I mean, we associate this with Princess Diana, we associated with Kate Middleton now, but we
forget that our queen went through exactly the same process.
GLASS: Nick Glass, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: What stunning images, our thanks to Nick Glass for that, really beautiful to see. And I should note for those of you who don't know, our
colleague, Christiane met the queen face to face, a rare honor. Here she describes that experience.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: It is of course, every journalist's dream to interview the queen of England. Well, it never
happened. The closest I ever got as a reporter to her majesty was in 2007 when she awarded me a civilian honor known as the CBE, the commander of the
most excellent order of the British empire.
Well, this was an amazing experience for me. And you can see from the pictures and I look back and I recall now, how nervous I was, how much
anticipation there was. I was standing there what I thought was a lovely white suit, which actually got a bit crumpled. I had a hat on, which I
thought was really cool. I had to wear a hat but it looked a bit like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
UNKNOWN: Christiane Amanpour for services to journalism.
AMANPOUR: And I was afraid that it was going to fall off when I bowed in front of her before she pinned the medal and the ribbon to my lapel. And I
was told, you know, to engage her quickly, animatedly and get out of there. And she decides when she talks to you and when she dismisses you. So, I
quickly talk to her about horses. Knowing that I had that passion, she had that passion.
And I also thanked her for opening CNN's bureau here in London in November 2001, which was shortly after the turmoil and the global eruption that was
caused by 9/11. And she came here to CNN and that was an incredible thing for us at CNN. So, I thanked her for doing that. I'd been in Kabul at the
time when she was in the bureau.
You know, I'd always been told that no matter how many times you see the queen on television or in pictures --
UNKNOWN: The late king's daughter became England's second Queen Elizabeth.
AMANPOUR: -- nothing quite prepares you for the real thing. And you got it right there and then. Her connection and the power of the presence and that
translucent, glowing complexion that she was so famous for. You really got it when you saw it in the flesh.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: What a moment to see. Well, in this somber moment as we reflect on the public legacy of Queen Elizabeth, we do want to consider another side,
the personal side known and loved by those closest to her.
[13:59:56]
In 2013, Christiane sat down with Margaret Rhodes, the queen's first cousin, and one of her dearest friends and they spoke just before the birth
of Prince George, Williams' eldest son. Here's a moment from that conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMANPOUR: Do you see her regularly?
MARGARET RHODES, QUEEN ELIZABETH II'S FIRST COUSIN: Well, I'm lucky enough that I'm here in this house which I've been now for 32 years. Because she
comes to the chapel in the park that I gave to my Sundays. And so, like yesterday she was having a drink.
AMANPOUR: Yesterday, right where we are?
RHODES: Yes. I project.
AMANPOUR: She was here having a drink with you?
RHODES: Yes.
AMANPOUR: That's nice.
AMANPOUR: She quite often does come in after church for half an hour to an hour and just has a nice drink and a chat.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: How wonderful to see. That is all for us tonight. Thank you so much for watching our special coverage. And goodbye from New York.
END
