The Queen visited Margate last year

Viscount De L’Isle says Queen will rule for many years to come

It’s the Lord Lieutenant of Kent’s job to ensure the Queen is kept safe at all times when she is in the county, and Viscount De L’Isle believes she will be on the throne for “many years” to come.

As the Queen marked the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne on Monday, the Viscount, born plain Philip Sidney, said she is worth every penny of the £1 each we annually spend on the monarchy.

He said: “The Queen has completed 60 years as our monarch, the only other to reign as long was Queen Victoria.

“During her reign the Queen has moved with the times and modernised the way she rules over us as our head of state.

“The Queen still takes an active part in affairs of state in this country and nations of the commonwealth.

“She has received 11 new Prime Ministers, all of whom have greatly appreciated her wise advice. The current Prime Minister was born 14 years after the Queen’s accession. Constitutional monarchy suits this country and still remains relevant in the 21st century.

“During the Jubilee celebrations this summer the Queen has expressed a wish that no great expense is made on her behalf, rather that communities should get together on Sunday, June 3, for a ‘Big Lunch’, be that a street party, or an event on the village green.

“The nation is exceptionally lucky to have a monarchy that costs them less, annually, than £1 per head of population, gives great pleasure to thousands of people, as we all saw demonstrated during the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Margate last November.

“During her visit the Queen met veterans, talked to shopkeepers in the old town, who are seeing a revival in their fortunes and toured the new Turner Contemporary Gallery, before visiting the lifeboat station, taking great interest in all the people she met and things she saw.

“Apart from the Big Lunch I am keen we should all embrace the Diamond Jubilee Beacons. We have a proud history of firing warning beacons across Kent, dating from 16th century, when the Spanish Armada sailed up the English Channel. To date for this Jubilee 85 beacons across Kent have been registered, with the Queen’s Pageant master.”

Home for Viscount De L’Isle is Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent in 1996 and Vice Lord Lieutenant in 2002, taking up his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Kent on September 1, 2011.