[News] God save the Queen.

[Brovion]

Why do people ALWAYS quote the USA as if it were the only example of a republic in the world? Other countries (France and Ireland spring immediately to mind) have both a Prime Minister and a President. So that's a model we could have: the PM looks after the day-to-day running of the country and the President does the ceremonial stuff - and also plays an important and democratically-legitimate constitutional role.

So we would NOT have had President Thatcher, President Blair or President Johnson - they would have stayed as PMs. We could perhaps have had President Bobby Charlton though.

 

[Seagull58]

Why do people ALWAYS quote the USA as if it were the only example of a republic in the world? Other countries (France and Ireland spring immediately to mind) have both a Prime Minister and a President. So that's a model we could have: the PM looks after the day-to-day running of the country and the President does the ceremonial stuff - and also plays an important and democratically-legitimate constitutional role.

So we would NOT have had President Thatcher, President Blair or President Johnson - they would have stayed as PMs. We could perhaps have had President Bobby Charlton though.

Based on the experience of the USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, DRC, Sudan etc. I have to agree than an Executive President is absolutely not a good model to follow. Too similar to the monarchy before the Magna Carta (and for centuries after)..

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

The best monarch ever but sadly won’t be the last.

This is the century where the monarch will be replaced by a president, hopefully with the great capabilities, honour, integrity and judgement of the present (and one off) Queen.

I can only hope you are wrong and would take Charles over the vast majority of world presidents and the moron in number 10.

The Queen is wonderful as is the monarchy as an institution….

 

[Eeyore]

Johnson is an appalling person and I truly despise him. Under our fptp system the alternative in 2019 was that commie Corbyn however. This shouldn't be forgotten.

It appears that system and the whole two party thing is the problem - see also USA where scumbags can take over an entire party.

Of course the real winners here are the Chinese and Russian regimes, those guys must be peeing themselves laughing.

I don't agree with your Corbyn opinion. But I am duty bound not to complain to much due to your splendid avatar of early 60s Brighton blue Leyland Weymann at the Old Steine. The very fact that it would have probably ran the 42 route in the early 70s means I must pay you due respects.

 

[Baker lite]

This is one of the areas where she has my total admiration.
All those years of carrying out her duties, my god she has had to put up with dealing with some shit and idiots.
The Duke would have put you straight.

Let’s try and keep this civil eh? This is a thread celebrating the fantastic service Her Majesty has given to this country.
You seem very tolerant and progressive, turn it in. [emoji1303]

 

[Eeyore]

Let’s try and keep this civil eh? This is a thread celebrating the fantastic service Her Majesty has given to this country.
You seem very tolerant and progressive, turn it in. [emoji1303]

Yeah, but let's face it, you were expecting some detractors. Perhaps even hoping.

 

[Baker lite]

Yeah, but let's face it, you were expecting some detractors. Perhaps even hoping.

Try not to judge me by your own standards.

 

[rogersix]

lets hope that the coronation of the proper charlie will precipitate a large proportion of the english population seeing the monarchy for what it actually is, heralding a revolution in our electoral system

 

[The Clamp]

Yeah, but let's face it, you were expecting some detractors. Perhaps even hoping.

Ignore him. He’s trying to start a pit-bound binfest.


NB- you are correct though, he wants the attention.

 

[A1X]

Long live the Queen. Because when you look at what comes next…**** me.

 

[faoileán]

What, like every other family ever in the history of mankind?

So are you saying that you can compare the royal family's accomplishment of sustaining their outrageous privilege to say for e.g. a 19th century mine worker sustaining the "privilege" of feeding his family by working a coal seam six and a half days a week for a few shillings? Blimey...

 

[dangull]

I don't understand the need for a head of state. We are all equal in the eyes of God, even if you are not religious.

 

[Is it PotG?]

I don't understand the need for a head of state. We are all equal in the eyes of God, even if you are not religious.

Whose boat race would you have on our stamps then?

 

[Surf's Up]

Big mistake legitimising that frumpy old tart that Chas is shagging though....she won't be my queen!!!

 

[dazzer6666]

Long live the Queen. Because when you look at what comes next…**** me.

Can possibly skip Charlie as he’s always been a bit odd (but has mellowed - difficult for anyone though to serve a maybe 70 year apprenticeship in any job) but Wills and Kate seem like just the couple to eventually inherit the mantle to me, pretty dutiful public servants and a decent couple. Long term future is in good hands.

 

[Seagull58]

Big mistake legitimising that frumpy old tart that Chas is shagging though....she won't be my queen!!!

Not as long as Julian Clary is living and breathing.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Big mistake legitimising that frumpy old tart that Chas is shagging though....she won't be my queen!!!

Yes, Brenda did make a bit of a mistake doing that

 

[hart's shirt]

BBC1 now...The Queen: 70 Glorious Years

"Celebrities share their experiences of meeting the Queen, and reflect on how much the UK has changed over the course of her 70 years on the throne. Narrated by Julie Walters and featuring contributions from David Attenborough, Paul McCartney, Lulu, Trevor McDonald, Brian Blessed, Cameron Mackintosh, Alan Bennett, Len Goodman, Floella Benjamin, Twiggy, Cliff Richard, Alesha Dixon, Bob Geldof, Lenny Henry and Sue Johnston."

As well as all that, it's an interesting look back at the social history of Britain.

Whatever one's views of the monarchy are, it's worth a watch

 

[Live by the sea]

Not a huge fan of the family but I do think the Queen does an outstanding job for the UK . You are lucky to have her.

 

[Fritz the Cat]

On what criteria do you rate monarchs?
If it's on the basis of the influence and control of the UK over the rest of the world then she gets nowhere near Elizabeth I or, the mummy of them all, Victoria. In fact, under her stewardship we've lost most of the great empire "on which the sun never sets" (until she gave it away).

Victoria was actually pretty unpopular by the time she died. People were actually very tired of her endless grieving for Albert and the fun loving , cheerful Edward V11 was much more to their taste. I think you'll find that it was politicians who 'gave away' the empire. They did so not because they were traitors but because 'the winds of change' were unstoppable.