At a Corporation of London Guildhall luncheon on November 24, 1992, to commemorate her 40th year on the throne,
Elizabeth II delivered a speech to over 500 VIP guests. She stated, “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.”
In the words of one of my more empathetic correspondents, it has been a “Annus Horribilis.” I am under the impression that I am not the only individual who experiences this sentiment.
The Latin phrase “annus horribilis,” which translates to “terrible year,” was employed by the Queen to parody the more frequently used phrase “annus mirabilis,” which means “year of wonders.”
The Queen was subsequently criticized for failing to visit London sooner after Diana’s death in 1997, while she was at Balmoral.
Despite his conviction that the criticism was unjust, Lord Fellowes ultimately determined that a change of course was required and expedited her return to London.
