The UK is the beating heart of the free world – The Telegraph

The State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II was a deeply moving farewell to a Monarch with a heartfelt life of service, duty and dedication. The Queens seven decades on the throne were selflessly lived for the sake of the British people and the Commonwealth of Nations, with its 56 member countries, stretching from Australia to South Africa. India, with a population of over 1.3 billion, is a proud member of the Commonwealth, with a close association with the British Monarchy and the British people.

The declinists who have claimed that Britain in the Brexit era is isolated and sinking into irrelevance could not be more wrong. The immaculate service in Westminster Abbey and the procession that followed was a powerful reminder of the greatness of the British nation, its central role at the heart of Western civilization, and the Christian foundations that underpin it. A truly global event, it was watched by hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people across the world.

In many respects, Great Britain this week has been the very heart of the free world. Several hundred foreign leaders attended the state funeral, including the President of the United States and the Emperor of Japan, with practically every head of state from Europe in attendance as well (excluding of course, Vladimir Putin, who was rightly not invited), pointing to the huge respect for Queen Elizabeth's lifetime of service, and the role that the British monarchy has played in underpinning a sense of both Britain and the West. The Monarchy is a fundamentally benign institution that embodies the values of respect, service and continuity that all in the free world cherish.

In the events of the last few days the world has witnessed the very best of the United Kingdom, with the British people uniting as one to mourn a greatly cherished sovereign at the end of the second Elizabethan era, and preparing for a new King, Charles III. They have demonstrated to the world that Great Britain and its Royal Family remain robust, resilient, and vital.

Across the Atlantic in the United States, where the Queen was hugely popular, there has been overwhelming public focus on the recent events in the UK, with wall-to-wall coverage on all US news networks. Even Royal-sceptic CNN and MSNBC have devoted a huge amount of airtime to the death of the Queen, and the new King. At the Presidents instruction, the Stars and Stripes have been flying at half-mast (half-staff) on the US Capitol and across America in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Special Relationship is real, and really does matter to the American people. Ignore the nasty, malevolent attacks on the Queen, the British Monarchy, and Great Britain, from the New York Times, The Washington Post and the liberal elite US media. The sneering assaults from the hate-filled woke Left are tedious, unpleasant and out of touch. Much of its is based on a staggering ignorance of British history, and a refusal to acknowledge the immensely positive role that Britain has played in modern history, from the stamping out of slavery on the high seas to the defeat of Nazi Germany fighting alongside their US allies.

The vast majority of Americans love the Queen, the Royal Family, and the British people. They do not share the contempt demonstrated by sections of the East and West Coast chattering classes. They recognise that America has no closer friend than the United Kingdom, with the Monarchy playing a key role in advancing the partnership between two great nations.

The woke elites reject the Wests traditions, culture, and the very idea of a Royal heritage. They wish to tear down our institutions, our history, and destroy the idea of the US and UK leading the world. Unsurprisingly, the British Monarchy is now their top target.

They will not succeed, however. The Monarchy is strong, robust and vital to Britain's future. It will remain at the heart of the British nation for centuries to come. The Queen has left a powerful legacy, and her life of service will continue to inspire the British people and the free world for generations to come.

Nile Gardiner is the Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation in Washington

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The UK is the beating heart of the free world - The Telegraph