I See The Queen...

[Jackdaw33]

...clocks up 64 years on the throne today. Almost 90 and still going strong. Some feat.

[TWR]

Some of them clowns in the H.P. want to take a leaf out of H.M book the useless prats.

[Svejk]

Yes, fair play to her.

[lynbrown]

yes, she has done well but remember she has never worried about feeding her kids or buying shoes when their feet grew.

[Bathsheba]

I think she has done an amazing job, but I also feel she should step down now and give Charlie a go ;)

Baths
x x

[ummmm]

She'll never step down and I admire her for that.

Lyn, she's not the only one that hasn't had to worry.

[mikey4444]

I am as far from being a fervent Royalist as it is possible to be, but even I must agree that Betty has done a marvelous job all these years.

I still think a republic would be more democratic. However, if Betty would stand for the next 5 years as a presidential candidate, she would have my vote.

[hc4361]

Lyn, she has had to worry about everything she says and does in public, whether she's on an official engagement or not.

No amount of security can take away the worry of herself and her family being targets for snipers or kidnap.

I wouldn't swap places with her and admire the way she just keeps going to, whether she wants to or not.

[ummmm]

Putting like that, hc, she's probably had way more worry than most people.

She itched her nose and it ended up on the front page of every tabloid...

[Jackdaw33]

I wondered how long it would take to get to the 'Betty' bit.

How would a republic be more democratic? Parliament reigns supreme, embodied in the Queen. What would be the point of electing a purely ceremonial president? If you are going to have a president then elect an executive one, as in France, USA, etc. How many non-executive presidents can you name off the top of your head? We all know the names of the presidents of the USA, France, Russia, to name but three. Could you instantly name the presidents of Italy, Germany, Austria and other European republics?

Of course, if you elect an executive president then he will have a policy agenda which the Queen does not. Do you want a president who can overrule parliament, as in the USA? Doesn't sound very democratic to me!

[ToraToraTora]

you surely did not expect the antis to refrain from having a go did you jackdaw?

[DTCwordfan]

She could nominate Prince Charles and/or Prince William as Prince Regent(s) and hand over the day-to-day red boxes and functions, keeping the ones closest to her..... that could be possible but I don't think it will happen as the daily grind probably keeps her going.

As to abdication, no way José, as she saw what it did to her old man and she also took a vow for life, one that she takes very seriously.

[DTCwordfan]

(There's also a good chance that Charles takes his clogs before his Mama, the last time that happened being George II to George III - with us missing out on a King Arthur.

[hc4361]

Every ex prime minister has 24 hour security paid for by the tax payer. I'd like to know how much this costs.

[DTCwordfan]

You could ask Assange for the answer to that one, hc!

[Prudie]

My heart actually warmed to see you being so gracious Mikey until you put Betty? Why, she's never called that in reality, what pleasure does it give?

[poorclare]

The abdication had nothing to do with the death of the Queens father.

[Prudie]

I don't know how the connection can be dismissed, her father was never brought up to be King or expected to be, it was thrust upon him, I thought the stress on his health is well documented. Certainly the Queen Mother thought it was a major factor on his health.

[Jackdaw33]

No, poorclare, but it was widely believed that the stress and strain on him shortened his life.

[mikey4444]

Prudie....Betty was meant in an affectionate way !

Lighten up....Is it really so awful ?

[jno]

she's never called that in reality

well, no, she's called Her Majesty, even by her son sometimes. But her subjects may call her what they wish. If Charles takes the throne under the name Arthur (as he may well do), is everyone instantly going to stop calling him Charles?