How extraordinary that we were in Slovenia watching a commemoration of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her state funeral service. After all, Slovenia was on the opposite side of Britain and the U.S. during both World Wars and then spent almost 50 more years under communist rule.
And yet Tito maintained diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. In 1972, Queen Elizabeth visited Tito in Yugoslavia. Her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, attended Tito’s funeral in 1980.
Years after Tito’s death, Prince Charles visited Slovenia in 1998. His trip included the pletna ride to the church on the lake. In 2008, the Queen and Prince Philip visited together. Queen Elizabeth said at the Slovenian State Banquet that year:
“I hope that this visit will demonstrate the importance the United Kingdom attaches to our relationship with Slovenia, as a partner in Europe and an ally in NATO, with whom we share so many common values and aspirations.”
If Tito were alive, he might have approved this laser tribute and raised a glass of his trademark cognac in a toast.
I doubt the Diocese of Brixen and the Maltese patriarch on the pletna ride that day would have done so.
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