SimplyAbuDhabi XLI

She also had a special relationship with her Prime Ministers, meeting with them on a regular - usually weekly - basis. She was famously able to ‘encourage or warn’ whilst always remaining politically neutral, wearing her authority with a quiet grace. The Queen was served by 15 UK Prime Ministers during her reign, beginning with Winston Churchill in 1952, as well as many Prime Ministers across her Realms. As Head of State, she also acted as diplomat and hostess, welcoming over 110 Presidents and Prime Ministers to the UK on official visits. The Queen saw public and voluntary service as one of the most important elements of her work. Her Majesty had links - as Royal Patron or President - with over 500 charities, professional bodies and public service organisations. These varied from well- established international charities to smaller bodies working in a specialist area or on a local basis only. The Queen’s Patronages and charities covered a wide range of initiatives, from creating opportunities for young people, to preserving wildlife and the environment. And as Head of the Armed Forces, Her Majesty had strong links to Naval ships, army regiments, and air squadrons both in the UK and throughout all her realms. As Royal Patron or President Her Majesty provided vital publicity for the work of these organisations, and allowed their enormous contributions to society to be recognised. Her Majesty supported and encouraged achievement in many different ways. The UK honours system enabled her to confer titles such as MBEs, OBEs and CBEs on people from all walks of life in public recognition of their merit, service or bravery. Recommendations were made by the Prime Minister’s Office, but it was The Queen (and members of the Royal Family working on her behalf) who presented tens of thousands of people with their insignia over the course of her reign. “Some of them are very cleverly discovered,” she once said. “That’s very important, that the system does discover people who do unsung things, that perhaps the local people know about but nobody else does, and that’s very satisfactory.” There were also Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, receptions and other awards given in her name. This allowed her to say ‘thank you’ to just some of those who had made a significant contribution to the life of the nation. Simply Abu Dhabi | 83