If you didn鈥檛 get a chance to celebrate the Queen becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history on Wednesday, it wasn鈥檛 for lack of local festivities.
On the day she broke Queen Victoria鈥檚 reigning record, you couldn鈥檛 swing a Union Jack flag in this town without hitting a royal celebration.
Even if you weren鈥檛 a diehard monarchist, it was hard to resist the Liz love during the 23,226 Days of Reign in Oak Bay tea on the lawn of its municipal hall.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing reign,鈥� said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen, who proudly declared himself a constitutional monarchist at the free event, one of many regionwide.
鈥淭hat structure has served us so well, and we have such a stable democracy. If we know it works, why change to something that may take us down the road to what鈥檚 happening in the U.S.?鈥�
He good-naturedly brushed aside any suggestions the region鈥檚 most tony municipality was perpetuating the 鈥渨ee bit of Olde England鈥� label tourism officials have been moving away from.
鈥淓ver since the Tweed Curtain was sent to the cleaners decades ago, people lost track of it,鈥� he deadpanned, recalling past references to the symbolic barrier separating Oak Bay from Greater Victoria.
鈥淭here is no Tweed Curtain that surrounds us. We鈥檙e an open community and we welcome everyone to come and celebrate with us. We鈥檙e a modern, progressive, vibrant and arty community.鈥�
Some of the 200 people who showed up for cucumber sandwiches, biscuits and tea served by volunteers, including local Pathfinders, were old enough to remember the Queen鈥檚 ascension to the throne.
London-born Sheila Skene, 72, and her husband Michael, 80, wearing a navy blue blazer and white slacks, said the event rekindled fond memories.
鈥淲e both remember the coronation,鈥� said Sheila, who grew up in Devon. 鈥淚 was dancing around the maypole on the green.鈥�
Organizer Hazel Braithwaite, with her Union Jack glasses, flag and matching teacup, got right into the royal spirit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been such a fabulous event and Oak Bay epitomizes the British monarchy,鈥� said the Oak Bay councillor.
The Queen herself showed up 鈥� or rather, royal impersonator Lynda Witham. She graciously posed for photos with fans alongside Elaine Kilpatrick, wearing a black, lace-accented gown as Queen Victoria.
鈥淪he鈥檚 looking very good for a woman of 196,鈥� observed Witham, looking resplendent in her crown and velvet outfit on the throne, even when feigning annoyance when fans called them Your Royal Highness.
鈥淚t鈥檚 鈥榊our Majesty,鈥欌�� she corrects with a pursed smile.
鈥淧eople are showing great affection for a lady who was born into a role she didn鈥檛 ask for, and she isn鈥檛 complaining,鈥� the Monarchist League of sa国际传媒 member said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 had to adapt. She may still surprise us [by reigning much longer]. She has good genes.鈥�
Of course, such a tribute wouldn鈥檛 be complete without a contingent of corgis, the Royal Family鈥檚 preferred pooches. The Queen has owned more than 30 during her reign.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e very companionable and have a wonderful sense of order,鈥� said Andria Tetlow, a retired Welsh corgi breeder who kept her eyes on a dozen underfoot, with names such as Merlin, Hwnffre and Gwyneira.
Although the small dogs that originated in Wales are energetic, they鈥檙e eager to please and like to settle in front of a fire and relax, she said. They also appear to be smiling when they hold their heads up.
鈥淚t鈥檚 called the Corgi grin,鈥� explained Ken Lane, the retired Victoria businessman who brought along Selwyn, his own corgi, and came dressed as a London bobby.
鈥淭he Queen needs some kind of security, doesn鈥檛 she?鈥�
