Martin Eichtinger was Austria’s ambassador to Great Britain from 2015 to 2018 and as such had met Queen Elizabeth II personally. He describes her as extremely personable and humorous. “When she spoke to you, you believed for a few moments that you were the only person in the world who existed,” said Eichtinger on Thursday evening in an interview with ORF Lower Austria.
The trained lawyer has been a member of the ÖVP government team in Lower Austria since March 2018 and, as Provincial Councilor, is responsible for housing, the labor market, Europe and regional politics. In the interview, he spoke, among other things, regarding the further procedure following the death of the Queen and what will remain of this special era. “She gave Great Britain an incredible cohesion,” says Eichtinger.
Mr. Landesrat, the report was confirmed in the evening: Queen Elizabeth II is dead. What does that mean for Great Britain?
Martin Eichtinger: That meant an incredible amount of sadness, an entire country is in shock. Queen Elizabeth was an incredibly present queen, had many admirers all over the country, not only in Great Britain but far beyond. As a longtime head of the Commonwealth, she has had a presence around the world, including as head of state of Canada and Australia. So surely much of the world is in dismay and sadness today.
Already in the followingnoon people gathered in front of their country estate in Scotland and in front of Buckingham Palace in London. What is happening in the country now?
Eichtinger: An unbelievable number of people will come to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. There will be seas of flowers and candles. People worshiped her. She was a very warm person, personable with an incredible presence and charisma. She has given Britain a cohesion. I think this is a very, very difficult time for Britain.
Obituary for Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in British history, having reigned for more than 70 years. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 96 following suffering health problems.
You were Ambassador to London from 2015 to 2018. What personal memories do you have of the Queen?
Eichtinger: I was allowed to present my credentials on March 18, 2015, together with my wife and embassy staff. It was a special presentation because Prince William was also present. On our day, the Queen wanted to show Prince William what it’s like to receive foreign ambassadors. At the time, the chief of protocol said: “You get two for the price of one” because Prince William was there.
We had a wonderful conversation and reviewed her visit to Austria. As a young queen in 1969 she was in Austria, in Vienna, in Graz, in Salzburg, in Innsbruck, also in Piber, because she was a great horse lover.
I was able to meet her several times as a result, as it is customary for ambassadors to have a reception at Buckingham Palace before Christmas, where they are allowed to bring their family. Our children have also spoken to her personally. She took an incredible amount of time and personally spoke to all the ambassadors.
From your experience, how will the further procedure in Buckingham Palace be following the death of the Queen?
Eichtinger: There will be preparations for a big state funeral. I recently spoke to our current ambassador in London, who is in Austria for the ambassadors’ conference and is now returning. All states in the world will of course be invited, it will be a meeting of all heads of state in the world.
We must not forget that she is also the head of the Anglican Church and is now by far the longest-serving monarch, but also the longest-serving head of state in the world. She has traveled extensively during her time with Prince Philip and is known all over the world. It’s going to be a really, really big funeral in London.
“Brits loved coverage of Queen”
For many people, the Queen was more than just a head of state. From your point of view, was she also something of a political pop star?
Eichtinger: You can really say that. She was incredibly media present. Her accession to the throne in 1953 was the first major televised event of its kind. She had an incredible media presence. Reporting on the Royal Family, and the Queen in particular, was something Brits loved dearly. You can really tell that she played a big role almost like a pop star.
What will be remembered of their era?
Eichtinger: What was impressive regarding her was that she devoted her whole life to the service of Great Britain. For example, she served in a support unit in the military during World War II when she was very young. She saw her whole life as a service to society. We noticed it too, right up to the end. Shortly before her death, she personally received the new British Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She has been on the road day and night in the service of society. The British people will never forget that.
What else is left? The Great Role as the Unifier of Britain. There have always been centrifugal forces, for example the 2014 referendum in Scotland. But she was always the big bridge across the different parts of Britain and that was an important role. In her time was the decolonization of the British Empire, she experienced the Cold War, she experienced Great Britain’s accession to the European Union in 1973 as well as “Brexit” and the referendum of 2016.
The Queen is succeeded by a male heir to the throne, Charles III. Will he have to reinvent this office?
Eichtinger: Every monarch has his own way of exercising his office. In recent years, the British people have increasingly imagined the transition to King Charles. I think he’s been preparing for this moment very intensively over the years at the Queen’s side.
Queen Elizabeth II is dead
Great Britain mourns: Queen Elizabeth II is dead. She died on Thursday followingnoon, Buckingham Palace said. The long-term monarch ascended the throne in 1952. Her son Charles (73) is now king.
You spoke earlier regarding your personal connection and memories of the Queen. How did you feel regarding the news of her death today?
Eichtinger: Personally, a lot, because I felt incredible sympathy for her, as did my family, because both my wife and our daughter and son were able to meet them in person. Everyone is very upset because – and this was a special element – she was able to connect with many people quickly.
You developed a personal contact with her very quickly. When she spoke to you, for a few moments you believed that you were the only person in the world that existed. She was also very humorous, always joking with us. We took away a nice story from every meeting with her.
Do you think there can be another personality like the Queen?
Eichtinger: I really don’t think so in that form. It really is the end of an era for her. Such a personality, who spans such a large arc of our history and always enjoys this enormous appreciation of the population, will probably no longer appear in this form today.
