Queen Elizabeth II

A very interesting piece by David Hare in the Guardian, assume it was pre-written otherwise it's very thoughtful on short notice.

www.theguardian.com

New Britain, same as the old one: the legacy of the second Elizabethan era | David Hare

The Queen’s accession seemed to herald a fresh start for Britain. But as politics became more squalid, her bland persona was a good match for the monarchy’s survival instinct, says playwright David Hare
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Loved her.
She visited us over here 22 times. More than any other country.

I consider my land truly blessed to have been granted its status from colony to nation by Victoria, Mother of our Confederation.
But equally so having had Elizabeth as Canada's Queen for so long. God grant her a well earned rest.

Long live Charles III, King of Canada.
 
StillBluessinceHydeRoad said:
I do agree that this country operates under "a ... broken political system" but I cannot agree that it is broken totally. Our system tries to reconcile two principles, the elective and the hereditary. Most "radical" thought is no more sophisticated than a crude demand to get rid of the hereditary elements completely. In fact, the House of Lords is no longer based on any principle of heredity and is little more than a chamber of ageing MPs and government placemen. It is not a chamber which can compel the Commons to reconsider because it lacks legitimacy. Yet we need desperately a second chamber which can compel the executive to reflect maturely before acting. This is essential because the elective element in the constitution no longer works at all. We have an electoral system which rewards 30 odd % of the votes with a working, even a crushing, majority of MPs, in which no government has ever won 50% of the votes cast, which is dominated by parties dominated by one faction, which produce prime ministers who think increasingly in slogans and soundbites ("hug a hoody", "Brexit means Brexit", "get Brexit done") while they get on with fiddling expenses, lying and breaking their own laws.

This brings us to the one part of the constitution which has worked - the hereditary, constitutional monarchy, and the credit for this goes to Queen Elizabeth 11. I am sure that many of us would find that she led a privileged existence, that the dead hand of the protocol of court life would be insufferable but as a constitutional monarch she has always shown the sensitive touch that only the highest sense of duty and the most genuine concern for her people could produce. Being that kind of constitutional monarch is by no means easy but for Queen Elizabeth it was an instinct, not a calculation and in that lies her greatness. Now Charles is king. He must realise that he can no longer be "the dissident prince" and that his role as king brings far more responsibilities that rights and privileges. We need him to succeed.
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Great post that.
Certainly rings true re the "crude demand to get rid of the hereditary elements completely". Especially if King Charles pokes his oars into some of the more nefarious goings on with this govt and democracy as a whole.
Gonna be interesting times ahead (and I'm not wholly confident we can stem the flow of detritus frothing out of the UK).
 
We never knew the queens opinion on anything but we know all about the kings , how he governs now will be interesting , will he stop giving his opinions now , does he have to ?

Cant stand her or him so not that bothered really , just wondering , hope william gets in in my lifetime
 
kaz7 said:
We never knew the queens opinion on anything but we know all about the kings , how he governs now will be interesting , will he stop giving his opinions now , does he have to ?

Cant stand her or him so not that bothered really , just wondering , hope william gets in in my lifetime
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Indeed, quite the conundrum for the gammon boomers.
 
My question is getting answered on itv, they are looking at his opinions and what he will do

Forgot he used his severance pay to start the princes trust
 
bobbyowenquiff said:
The problem is that, after a respectful period, the politicans will start trying to exploit the vacuum. We have now got another 12 months leading up to the Coronation. They will use this period, like Covid, like Brexit, to deflect attention away from our totally broken political system. It will be another opportunity for people to wallow in nostalgia and past glories which, to be fair, so many of us love to do.
This should be an opportunity to totally change the political structure of the country, slim down the monarchy, get rid of all the unelected hangers-on in government, introduce a fair voting system, and start to modernise the country so we can compete properly with the rest of the world. Perhaps Charles and William themselves can be a force for change. As you say we can't go on like this, just living in the past.
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What vaccuum?

The Queen is dead, long live the King.

We don't have to wait for party members to vote.
 
stonerblue said:
Just had a woman on the radio who must've read your post last night cos she said exactly the same thing (glue)
She then went on to tell us that Queenie was everybodys ''Mother''. Well no she fucking wasn't. My mother died 3 months ago.
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Let’s be honest here.
Whilst some opinions are no doubt genuine you’ll get all walks of life using this to try and further their own standing or by desperately trying to say something different.
I agree that’s a pathetic statement to imply she speaks for us all.
 
Uncle Wally One Ball said:
Well fuck me. Boris Johnson being the antithises of his usual self. What a brilliant speech delivered properly
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Very frankly he confessed his treasons,
Implor'd your Highness' pardon, and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his career
Became him like the leaving it.
 
Not in the slightest a fan of the royal family but the Queen served the country with great dignity, as for the rest of them I’ve no interest , every time I hear King Charles I automatically say spaniel . On the plus side I’ve been privy to the thoughts of Alan Titchmarsh and the chairwomen of the Sandringham
W I this morning on the radio, which was nice .
 
"Seyton
The Queen, my lord, is dead.

Macbeth
She should have died hereafter.
There would have been a time for such a word.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

Love it.

RIP
 
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