It’s no question that Queen Elizabeth II was one impressive woman. The former sovereign made history as the longest-reigning British monarch, having led the commonwealth for nearly 71 years. She modernized the monarchy in a number of ways, including inventing the royal walkabout (where royals would greet crowds on foot), creating the royal family website, and allowing divorces and remarriages within the royal family. She dedicated her life to public service, all while raising four kids and living to see the birth of her eight grandkids and 12 great-grandchildren. While she lived quite a robust and decorated life, there were some accolades she didn’t want, such as the Nobel Peace Prize.
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As reported by the Daily Mail, a senior courtier said Elizabeth “didn’t want the honor.”
“While candidates don’t have to be consulted, Buckingham Palace was approached on more than one occasion by Commonwealth leaders ‘for guidance’ on nominating Her Majesty,” columnist Ephraim Hardcastle wrote. “They were politely told, ‘Thank you, but no thank you.'”
While it is unclear exactly why she denied the prize, Elizabeth famously said in a speech at 21-years-old: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.” As such, she might have felt it unnecessary to be rewarded for just fulfilling her duty.
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Although Elizabeth chose to forgo the honor, there was a strong public sentiment that she deserved the prize. In 2018, theTelegraph reported that it would likely be a topic of discussion at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
A source told the outlet, Elizabeth’s potential nomination was “being discussed by different high commissioners.” The insider added, “They want to nominate her for what she has done for the Commonwealth.”
Another source commented at the time, “If someone nominates her and she is successful, I think the whole country would be thrilled to bits and consider her fully deserving.”
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