𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰

༻✧༺

༻✧༺

༻✧༺

༻✧༺

༻✧༺

༻✧༺

Ladies and gentlemen; honored guests, for tonight I implore all of you to immerse yourself in the cultures I deeply respect. Tonight's dinner combines foods and aesthetics from both Eastern and Western cultures.‌ The dining room, as you may have noticed, is decorated with flowers from all over the continent: columbine for Seamas, tulips for Kharisia, and of course, the lotus to represent my kingdom of Zen as well as Ives. In my culture, nature is considered sacred. Many children are blessed with the name of a plant or a flower to guide us. So that we never forget to cherish the Earth which gave us life. I was bestowed the flower Lotus. In many cultures, it represents spiritual enlightenment and rebirth. The white lotus in my hair represent purity and the pink ones that adorn each of your plates symbolize devotion. Which brings us to the topic at hand:‌ what I believe are the most important traits a Queen must possess.

It is no doubt important for the queen to be well-rounded in order to guide her country and the people in it, but how is she expected to do that if she does not love her country first?‌ The Queen is known to be the mother of the country. Just as a mother is devoted and loving towards her children, so should the queen to her country. The Queen supports the kingdom unconditionally from the helm, alongside the King. She puts the kingdom first and foremost, above all else. Sometimes even above her own health. I believe the very basis of being a leader is to devote yourself to bettering the lives of those under your care.

When‌ I think about the queens I have met in my life; my grandmother, my mother and Queen Tzivia, one trait is common between each of them. That is, the respect they hold for other people, and more importantly, for themselves. From my experience in Seamas, I can tell that every person in the royal family fulfills this just from observing the servants and palace staff. They are respected almost to the same degree as nobility; something unheard of in many countries. I've heard them be referred to as the foundation of the country and frankly, I agree. What are royals without people to govern over?‌ What are lords without their cities?‌ What is a country without commonfolk?

My mother always told me that as a royal, I am the embodiment of my people. I believe that is even more true for the queen.‌ A queen must have dignity, for that shows pride in her country. But she must also have humility for the people who have come before her. A balance must be kept between pride and humility for respect to truly blossom. When a queen shows respect, it is not only towards the person she is speaking to, but their country, their people, and their ancestors. It is important to spread respect equally and generously regardless of ill faith between the parties.

It feels like just yesterday I arrived at Seamas as a Selected, but in that time I've learned so many things about the people and the culture... Even things about kingdoms that previously felt as though they were eons away. I achieved things that would have been impossible to experience ad I stayed in my home country, and it has done nothing but better me as a person and as a princess. For my final piece, I believe that an open mind and a willingness to learn are priceless to any person or royal, not just the Queen. To accept and learn about other people without prejudice, and use your differences to make yourself or your country better... Is that not the real reason we read history books and study culture?‌

I hope that through this multicultural dinner, all of us today leave feeling like a better version of ourselves due to the people around us. Just as I have, through this Selection. Thank you for your time and attention.

-encouragehappy-  bungalow-