Feel strongly about this letter, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. Sunday marked the 70th anniversary of Accession Day, when Britain’s King George VI tragically passed away at the age of 56, making Queen Elizabeth monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The milestone means the Commonwealth will celebrate the first Platinum Jubilee in its history this year. Later this year, God willing, the queen will surpass Johan II of Liechtenstein and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand to become the second-longest reigning monarch in all history, with the record currently held by King Louis XIV of France at 72 years and 110 days on the French throne. In an era defined by the increasing corruption and ineffectiveness of the democratically elected political elite worldwide, the queen has been a remarkable beacon of stability and duty, embodying the principle of service before self. In a statement released by Sandringham House, the queen renewed the vow she first made on her 21st birthday in 1947: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service”. History will record that the queen has remained true to her word, and we can only hope that more world leaders follow in her example. Nicholas Tam, Sai Ying Pun Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan paved the way for women in Asia February 13 is the birth anniversary of Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s pioneering former first lady. If history is the biography of great men and women, then Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan has earned her place in it. Her life serves as a model for future generations. Born in 1905, she was 46 when her husband, Pakistan’s first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated in 1951. Unlike others during the Partition, the couple did not claim compensation for the valuable property they left behind in India, but instead gifted their huge estate to the government of Pakistan to serve as an ambassadorial residence. They lived on Liaquat Ali Khan’s prime minister salary, which was discontinued on his death. One can only imagine Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan’s financial difficulties during this period. She is a symbol of courage, determination and dedication. She founded the All Pakistan Women’s Association, which helped to secure the fixed allocation of seats for women in the National Assembly in 1956 and draft clauses into the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance of 1961. The organisation is active to this day. She founded the Women’s National Guard, a volunteer organisation where women administered first aid, organised food distribution, and supported health care efforts. At her suggestion, the Pakistan Women’s Naval Reserve was also set up. Today is Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan's Death Anniversary She inspects the Pakistan National Women's Guard in 1949 pic.twitter.com/Ge3DpKOhqC — The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (@citizensarchive) June 13, 2015 In 1952, she was made Pakistan’s delegate to the United Nations, only the second Muslim woman to serve in this capacity. She also became the first Pakistani woman to hold the post of ambassador when she was appointed to the Netherlands in 1954. She additionally served as ambassador to Italy and Tunisia. In 1973, Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan became the first female governor of a province in Pakistan. The United Nations Human Rights Award was conferred on her in 1978. She passed away in 1990, but remains undoubtedly a pioneer of the women’s movement in Asia. Mahfooz un Nabi Khan, Karachi, Pakistan