To think most 84 year olds do not have such a busy weekend

[enimmead]

I am not a supporter of the Monarchy but I am very impressed that an 84 year old has the energy to go to the races, spend a day in the rain going up the Thames and do everything else she has done this last month.

I know my Gran couldn't do that - much happier with her feet up watching Countdown with a pot of tea.

FootballFriendSays - noy 100% sure, not sure they said why exactly. I was assuming that it was to make sure there was no evidence - sights or smells - or anything that could be commented on.

I'm sure Kate can see the Queen's life. And Camilla.

That is the rest of her life. Predictable. Monotonous. Boring.

No sense of adventure, the unknown. Everything planned for her. Having to be on show and to be so polite. To everyone. No one telling you you are wrong.
Worrying about what people will say about you. Knowing that what you wear will be picked over.

Not a life for me.

maybe the door standerer has a little tin of oust for any aromas

It always surprises me how people will always judge people just because they are wealthy. It somehow appears to be okay to do so in some people's eyes. It isn't. It is still prejudiced. Just the same as judging people with little money is prejudiced.

Hulababy - inherited wealth and privilege is a big part of it, though. What shall we talk about when talking about the queen? Of course it's about wealth and privilege. What surprises you so much about it?

Prince Philips Naval Career
Just for interest.

Here Here Cricketballs. If someone asked me to swap my min wage job to become Queen I would tell them where to go. They work extreamly hard and I don't begrudge them a single penny.

Watching today made me realise just how proud I am to be Brittish, and that's what it's all about.

It's the judging of people that the individual doesn't actually know. I say surprise - not really surprise tbh, just disheartening. ow if people actually know someone as a person and then judges what they do/are like with some basis - fine. But a person they don't know - just a bit sad really.

It annoys me when it is the other way round too though - rich or poor. I prefer to take people for who they are on a one to one basis really. Indidivual actions maynbe - but their whole life/being??? Not for me.

I heard earlier that Prince Philip was actually the top cadet on this course - so he must have been doing something right.

Who would the republicans amongst you want for head of state, or president (or whoever)? How would it be organised?

I can't say I would be keen on Blair, Cameron, Brown or Milliband for president.

Having lived and worked in USA, I wouldn't be keen on their system either.

I wouldn't fancy a dictatorship.

So - I would be genuinely interested to know.

Personally I have a lot of respect for HRH. She does work extremely hard and has done all her life. On balance I think there is more to be positive about than negative in terms of what she does for the UK. She is widely admired and respected around the world.

Hulababy - of course you judge people you don't know. I bet you do it too. Is it better to fawn over people you don't know personally?

3littlefrogs - "I wouldn't fancy a dictatorship." Straw man. Who would fancy a dictatorship?

Bingo :)

I was just pondering the various alternatives that exist around the world. I am sure there must be others, I wasn't seriously thinking anybody would fancy a dictatorship.

But I am interested in what the alternative for the UK would be - in practical terms.

Anyway - I have just realised the time, so am off to bed!

We tried the alterative back in 1649 and it wasn't a great success nor did it last long.

Do you know what would be the hardest part for me?

The smiling all the time. Fucking hell that woman's face must ache.

You lot should be grateful, if I were queen there would be a lot less smiling and a lot more blood.

I fear thee, Morloth, I fawn before you, your

Weird world we live in when there are kids starving on the streets, but people feel sorry for the fucking Queen.

I'm not especially a fan of the Royals (my DH is) but I was thinking today, for all that money and privaledge, I wouldn't want to do what the Queen has to do, day in, day out and I am 35.

I can't imagine having every aspect of your life under scrutiny, having so much expected of you and never really having any time to yourself.

Of course, the Queen doesn't have thew orries that plenty of people do have, but she has a whole different set of problems that none of us have.

I thought the poor love looked cold on the boat this afternoon and wanted to wrap her in a blanket, sit her down and give her a cup of hot cocoa!

I think HM was pretty amazing today, but the DoE was incredible. The man is 90 years old and had a heart attack and surgery at Christmas, but he stood all day in the rain, ramrod straight.

YANBU at all. She is old, as is her husband. They stood up and happily participated in everything. It's impressive from people of their age, queen or otherwise.
Not a great monarchy fan, but must say the queen seems to take duty a lot more seriously than most politicians. Thinking back to a certain pm who was on holiday while London burned.

If we were to become a republic, any President we had would be constitutional only, as the current queen is - i.e not like a US president who is directly and deeply involved in the political process. That's going to be half the problem, finding someone who is prepared to be genuinely apolitical, yet able to represent the country (as Paxman said in an article this weekend, when he researched controversial comments made by the Queen over the last 60 yrs, he was unable to find any- half her job is not alienating anyone by stating opinions "on behalf of the country").

The Royal family are an income generating unit. A constitutional President is just going to cost money we dont have, block up the TV with tedious, worthy debates/ election campaigns and not interest any tourists. The Queen stays.

That's what having the best health care money can provide does for you.

Won´t be the same for Camilla & Kate though as they won´t be the Monarch.

Although I suspect being the tag a long is pretty tedious.

Further to RichManPoorMan's comment, I would just like to add one thing: