The right choice

In recent years the British Times newspaper has followed the American Time magazine in naming a Person of the Year. Last year the Times chose Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister, describing him as “one of the most formidable politicians in Britain” -- a judgement that was thought controversial at the time and that has hardly been borne out by his performance in 2012. But the newspaper was on absolutely safe ground yesterday in naming Queen Elizabeth for the culmination of her “six decades of selfless service” in a Diamond Jubilee year that marked “the latest stage in Her Majesty the Queen's reinvention of the monarchy”. Whether “reinvention” is quite the right word may be debated -- perhaps “restoration” might be preferable when one thinks that it is exactly twenty years since 1992 when the Queen had to speak of her “annus horribilus” and fifteen years since the death of Princess Diana. In her Diamond Jubilee year the Queen is almost universally admired and trusted in Britain and those Commonwealth countries which still recognise her. In a year when a succession of major events demanded her personal participation she has responded with the dedication and energy of a much younger person, sometimes despite concern over the health of the Duke of Edinburgh, Notwithstanding the many other personal achievements in the course of 2012 it has unquestionably been Queen Elizabeth's year.