When one considers Britain’s rise to power, it is pertinent to note that it largely began under one great queen, Elizabeth i, and consummated under the nation’s longest ever reigning monarch, Victoria.

Though she is in no direct way accountable for it, Britain’s loss of empire and its reduction to an island power attached to the European Union has been accomplished under the oversight of its reigning monarch of the past 60 years, Elizabeth ii.

It is as though the two Elizabeths bookend the history of the rise and fall of the power of Great Britain.

In highlighting the Queen’s 60-year milestone, the Telegraph observed, “A small proportion of Her Majesty’s subjects may recall the reign of her father, or even her uncle and her grandfather. But for the vast majority, the Queen is the only head of state they have known—a constant companion through their entire lives, the still point of an often turbulent world” (February 3).

Despite the efforts by some to promote republicanism as an alternative in some parts of her realm, it remains a truism that the sole real anchor that has given stability to the United Kingdom, its dominions and protectorates during the tumultuous postwar years has been the monarchy. That this anchor of the constitutions of those nations has remained their touchstone of stability is largely due to the dutiful and most dedicated commitment of Her Majesty in fulfilling her role.

The Telegraph rightly endorses “the total and selfless service and dedication that the Queen has shown in her 60 years on the throne” (ibid).

The Express observed, “For 60 years she has reigned supreme as one of the world’s most important women. Unwavering in her duty and stalwart in her service to the Crown, the Queen has earned respect around the world for her unfaltering conduct as Britain’s head of state and constitutional monarch of 15 Commonwealth realms.

“Revered as Britain’s best diplomat and celebrated for her steadfast devotion to her subjects, she has earned her place in history as one of the most popular monarchs of modern times” (February 5).

As one of the Queen’s subjects, I guess I would be numbered by the Telegraph among the “small proportion of Her Majesty’s subjects” who “recall the reign of her father,” for I certainly do remember the latter years of the rule of King George vi.

I remember my parents commenting on the royal couple’s courage in remaining in London during the Blitz, and the fine example they set for the empire in its darkest days of war. I remember sitting with my mother and hearing King George vi’s voice crackle in over shortwave radio in his victory speech at war’s end. And I remember wearing a purple and black armband to school in acknowledgement of the king’s death in February 1952.

Then about a year and a half later came the great celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. What an event that was! Our whole street in suburban Sydney was decked out in red, white and blue. The Union Jack and the Australian flag flew side by side on buildings all the way down the main street.

Being in the years prior to the general availability of television, we listened to the coronation ceremony relayed by shortwave radio. Then we had to wait to see the official full-color film of the ceremony at our local cinema.

That film was rushed to Sydney via two Royal Air Force Vampire jets. Living only a mile or two from Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport, our family watched as those two jets flew right overhead and touched down on the tarmac at the airport.

Cinemas across the nation were packed for weeks as the coronation film enjoyed an extended season with millions flocking to view the event on the silver screen. Being royalists at heart, our family saw it twice.

Just two years after her ascension to the throne, Queen Elizabeth visited Sydney in February 1954. It was a grand affair. I remember having to rise at 4 a.m. so as to catch an early train to the city and join a group sitting on Hyde Park wall waiting for several hours among dense crowds for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to pass by in an open-top Rolls Royce.

It was a real thrill to see Queen Elizabeth being driven slowly by, surrounded by mounted escort, her face beaming in a wonderful smile and giving a royal wave to the highly enthusiastic, loudly cheering crowd.

Being but a mere lad at the time, I was yet to discover the true significance of the British monarchy and its ancient, God-given heritage.

Thirty-five years later I stood, as millions had done over time, and stared at an ancient block of sandstone resting beneath a well-worn old coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. By then I had discovered and studied in detail the history of the British monarchy and its attachment to that ancient gray-colored stone.

Seven years later, just before finishing a five-year tenure based in Britain, my eldest son and I took a trip to Scotland to view the Coronation Stone in its new setting in Edinburgh Castle. During those years living in Britain we had been able to research the origin of the stone, the various legends surrounding it, and the false claims put out by some that it was not the genuine stone. Our in-depth research at the British Library and other respected institutions left us in no doubt that the stone now encased in glass in Edinburgh Castle is the genuine item. Certainly Herbert Armstrong believed it was, as does our editor in chief, Gerald Flurry.

During that visit to Edinburgh to view the stone of destiny in its current setting, my son David and I were moved by our proximity to it, fully realizing that its history dates back to the time when the patriarch Jacob rested his head upon it (Genesis 28:18). From then on that piece of desert sandstone became firmly attached to the origins of the nation of Israel, the founding of and the perpetuation of its monarchy. All the genuine monarchs of the British peoples have been crowned seated over that stone.

Bible prophecy declares that the coronation stone, the stone of destiny—Jacob’s pillow stone—would be overturned three times (Ezekiel 21:27) before its final overturn back to the land from whence it came. Queen Elizabeth is one of the last monarchs to be crowned while sitting over that stone during the period of the third overturn. That third overturn occurred at the time King Edward, the “hammer of the Scots,” seized it from the Scottish dynasty in a.d. 1296 and transported it to England.

The time of the prophesied final overturn is rapidly approaching. Who will be the monarch that will be seated over that ancient stone of destiny at the final overturn? The answer may well astound you. It is made very clear in the book authored by Herbert Armstrong titled The United States and Britain in Prophecy, which we distribute free of charge and without obligation or follow-up.

Will Queen Elizabeth continue to reign for another three years and then exceed the reign of Victoria, the longest reign of any British monarch? Will her son, Prince Charles, ascend to the throne before its final overturn? Time will tell. If Charles does take the throne in the near future, he could perchance be reminded at some point of an elderly patriarch, Herbert Armstrong, whom he met on three separate occasions and who taught that the throne in England will yet be overturned but one more time and handed to its rightful and ultimate Occupier, who will be seated on that throne forever!

It is a good thing for Queen Elizabeth’s subjects to celebrate with joy the 60th anniversary of her successful reign in the face of the tumult of the times. It will be a far, far better thing for the world to rejoice over the King of kings taking over the rulership of this Earth from that very throne for what will become the longest reign of all!