The Queen has been a constant figure in the background of our lives for what seems like forever.  Most of the population of the UK were born during her reign and even more during her lifetime.  From being seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day to the sad sight of her sitting alone at her husband's funeral, hers has been a story of a life of public service, thrust upon her.  Of course, the trappings of a millionairess have surrounded her, she has servants literally waiting on her hand and foot and, as the old joke goes, it may even be that the Queen does think that the world smells of fresh paint, but one cannot deny that she has offered continuity for this country and many others as the years have gone by.

It was 1965 when I first saw the Queen 'in person'.  As a young boy at school, I stood on the school driveway in Manchester as she arrived and made the long walk down that drive to help the school celebrate 450 years since its founding.  Even then she appeared diminutive and it was hard to picture her position at the centre of UK and world events, regularly meeting and speaking with political leaders.

Forty years later, I saw her again, this time to meet and shake hands with her, like thousands of others before me, as my company received a Queens's Award for Exports.  This was not in the open air of Manchester but in the grander setting of Buckingham Palace.  Her husband stood alongside, shaking hands with each of us as we moved along the line.  Although there were hundreds of people present, it was fascinating to watch the way that the Buckingham Palace staff managed to move people from one state room to the next without ever saying a word or appearing to guide people; it's amazing what centuries of practice can do!  This time she appeared much smaller, partly a consequence of my now being an adult and partly because she had grown smaller with age.  However, there she was, looking people in the eye, shaking their hands and making each one of us, for those few seconds, feel as though we were important.

Whatever else one thinks, it's impossible to deny the Queen's dedication to her job, to the task of showing that there are some parts of our life that either do not change or will change so slowly that they appear permanent.

That's her role, to offer a feeling of solidity, of permanence, of something that cannot be moved by politicians, events or even the antics of the members of her own family.  Each week when she meets with the prime minister of the day, no matter how stupid or brilliant they might be, she offers the chance for that political leader to speak of their concerns and to listen to hers.  Each of those prime ministers knows that this small, old lady sat opposite them has seen more and greater people and events than they will ever experience.  It's a great privilege to be offered.  Thank you, Ma'am.