Happy Birthday to the Queen

[kiwi_2005]

Come on guys wheres the gentleman in ya honor the queen yes that goes for the americans here as well :lol:

Happy birthday your majesty :up: :()1:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Cheers to Her Majesty:up:

RDP

[Rose]

Happy b-day from America! http://gakungak.jconserv.net/images/smiles/icon_U606-vuurwerka1.gif (javascript:emoticon(':U606-vuurwerka1:'))

[bookworm_020]

Hapyy birthsay!:p Still got a week to go to the holiday:-?

[lesrae]

Yup, Happy Birthday, and thanks for the extra holiday last week :()1:

[perisher]

Amazing isn't it. No one said which Queen, but we all know who they mean.

Until a few years ago my attitude to the Monarchy was that it was an anachronism but, if we had to have a Monarch, then Elizabeth Windsor was doing a fine job.

Over the last few years my attitude has changed, it's okay to whinge on about unelected heads of state and out dated National Anthems, but what do you replace them with? The system works in the UK and the Commonwealth. It ain't broke, why fix it?

Here's the best bit, with an hereditary, and virtually powerless, Monarchy there is no need for presidential elections.

God Save The Queen

[bookworm_020]

The system works in the UK and the Commonwealth. It ain't broke, why fix it?

Here's the best bit, with an hereditary, and virtually powerless, Monarchy there is no need for presidential elections.

God Save The Queen

Since you pay for the queen, it mean we don't have to pay for a president and all his/her merry men/women!:D

May she stay the queen for a lot longer!

[perisher]

Overall the Royal Family are self-funding.

[The Avon Lady]

Overall the Royal Family are self-funding.
Old article but it would seem so (http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2002/0603/qe2/finances.html) in general.

[Captain Nemo]

The Royal Family may be self funding but they are not elected. In my view the Royal Family have past their sell by date and in recent years have become a bit of an embarrassement. Once Her Majesty has gone, I feel the Monarchy's days will be numbered.

Nemo

[Jimbuna]

AFAIK The Queen's 80th birthday falls on 21 April and she will celebrate her official birthday on 17 June :hmm:

[The Avon Lady]

AFAIK The Queen's 80th birthday falls on 21 April and she will celebrate her official birthday on 17 June :hmm:
Till she tries on everything and decides what to wear....................... :roll:

[Jimbuna]

AFAIK The Queen's 80th birthday falls on 21 April and she will celebrate her official birthday on 17 June :hmm:
Till she tries on everything and decides what to wear....................... :roll:

At her age....some warm woollen ones I hope ;)

[tycho102]

The Royal Family may be self funding but they are not elected. In my view the Royal Family have past their sell by date and in recent years have become a bit of an embarrassement. Once Her Majesty has gone, I feel the Monarchy's days will be numbered.

Nemo
Dude, that was totally un-British.

At any rate, Elizabeth is pretty decent as far as I am concerned. She's got hella more sense than a whole bunch of her ministers, so here's one for the Queen. Happy birthday!


(I wish I had an ani of "Naked Gun" where she fires off the first pitch of the season, then gives a small grin while holding up her hand -- it's a classic)

[perisher]

The Royal Family may be self funding but they are not elected. In my view the Royal Family have past their sell by date and in recent years have become a bit of an embarrassement. Once Her Majesty has gone, I feel the Monarchy's days will be numbered.

Nemo

Well there's a pleasant birthday wish for you.

Just what is the point of replacing the Monarchy?

I am sure we do not want a powerful president like the USA or France, so if we have a powerless president, like Ireland, what have we gained? How is that better?

[Jimbuna]

I can see a good debate starting to formulate here :yep:

[Rose]

I'm going to get my popcorn.

[Sailor Steve]

Happy b-day, Queen E II!:sunny:

[JSLTIGER]

Happy Birthday!

[perisher]

I can see a good debate starting to formulate here :yep:

It won't happen. As soon as you ask what their alternative plan is they shut up.

[fatty]

The Royal Family may be self funding but they are not elected. In my view the Royal Family have past their sell by date and in recent years have become a bit of an embarrassement. Once Her Majesty has gone, I feel the Monarchy's days will be numbered.

Nemo
Dude, that was totally un-British.

Could you imagine... the end of the "Royal" Navy and the "Royal" Airforce, no more sirs or dames, no more royal assent (even for us here across the pond).... yes, that would be decisively un-British!

[Onkel Neal]

Cheers to the Queen :D

[Captain Nemo]

The Royal Family may be self funding but they are not elected. In my view the Royal Family have past their sell by date and in recent years have become a bit of an embarrassement. Once Her Majesty has gone, I feel the Monarchy's days will be numbered.

Nemo
Dude, that was totally un-British.

Could you imagine... the end of the "Royal" Navy and the "Royal" Airforce, no more sirs or dames, no more royal assent (even for us here across the pond).... yes, that would be decisively un-British!

I don't wish to appear un-British and I agree that the loss of 'Royal' in front of the names of the British military services as well as some other services would be a shame. As for sirs and dames these honours tend to be given to people who have made lots of money for doing something that they enjoy immensely rather than those people that have really contributed something positive to British society. The balance has been redressed somewhat but not that much.

I would support the Monarchy more if they actually contributed something positive to Britain, but I feel there are too many 'hangers on' and the senior Royals (excluding the Queen) no longer conduct themselves as they should. If there were a referendum in the UK on whether or not to keep the Monarchy I think the result would be a close call.

Nemo

[Ishmael]

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she doesn't have a lot to say.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she changes from day to day.

I want to tell her I love her a lot,
But I gotta have a bellyfull of wine.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
Someday I'm going to make her mine.

[The Avon Lady]

I was just gonna paste that! :88)

[Ishmael]

I was just gonna paste that! :88)

Do you see how simpatico we are? Ahh, Avon, me Darlin' Girl. I resolve to remain in the world until I've helped bring enlightenment to you personally. Look at me as your own personal Kyosaku. I'll even teach you how to Surf.

Mrs. Barlow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707771/): You would think of geraniums when every other able-bodied man is out fighting!
Dr. Peter Blood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001224/): Hmm. It's out of favor I seem to be with you, my vinegary virgin.
Mrs. Barlow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707771/): Half the town is saying you're a Papist.
Dr. Peter Blood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001224/): Why? Because I've the sense to sleep this night instead of rushing to my ruin in a hopeless attempt to put this Duke of Monmouth on the throne? He'd be even worse than King James. Make haste with that cloak there, my pretty one.
Mrs. Barlow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707771/): And the other half of the town that defends you claims that you're just a coward.
Dr. Peter Blood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001224/): Mrs. Barlow, me darlin', you can tell 'em if you like that I've been most everywhere that fighting was in evidence: I fought for the French against the Spanish and the Spanish against the French... and I learned me seamanship in the Dutch navy. And having had adventure enough in six years to last me six lives, I came here. Hung up the sword and picked up the lancet; became a man of peace and not of war... a healer, not a slayer. And that I'm going to be as long as I'm on top of the sod and not under it.

[The Avon Lady]

Look at me as your own personal Kyosaku.
I refuse to have anything to do with motorcycles!
Mrs. Barlow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707771/): You would think of geraniums when every other able-bodied man is out fighting!
Dr. Peter Blood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001224/): Hmm. It's out of favor I seem to be with you, my vinegary virgin.
Mrs. Barlow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707771/): Half the town is saying you're a Papist.
Dr. Peter Blood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001224/): Why? Because I've the sense to sleep this night instead of rushing to my ruin in a hopeless attempt to put this Duke of Monmouth on the throne? He'd be even worse than King James. Make haste with that cloak there, my pretty one.
Mrs. Barlow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707771/): And the other half of the town that defends you claims that you're just a coward.
Dr. Peter Blood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001224/): Mrs. Barlow, me darlin', you can tell 'em if you like that I've been most everywhere that fighting was in evidence: I fought for the French against the Spanish and the Spanish against the French... and I learned me seamanship in the Dutch navy. And having had adventure enough in six years to last me six lives, I came here. Hung up the sword and picked up the lancet; became a man of peace and not of war... a healer, not a slayer. And that I'm going to be as long as I'm on top of the sod and not under it.
Ah! Errol Flynn!

/swoons

[Jimbuna]

Someone pas me a tissue or better still.......give it to the silver tongued cavalier :rotfl:

[perisher]

[... but I feel there are too many 'hangers on' ...
Nemo

Totally agree with you there. Please do not make the mistake, that so many do, of lumping Royalty in with aristocracy, they are separate things.

For my part I would like to see the aristocracy abolished today and the long overdue reform of the House of Lords completed. The honours system should be scrapped, except for military honours. We Brits are always remarking about how easy it seems to be to win a medal in the American forces. I have seen USN Midshipmen, fresh out of Annapolis, with more medals than my Dad got in a World War, and yet we hand out civil honours by the bucket load to long serving and well paid civil servants and to minor celebrities. The honours system is a joke.

The Monarchy however, does work. It provides a figurehead for not only the Home Nations of the UK but also the Commonwealth and her "Other Realms and Territories Overseas". By holding no power other than the loyalty of the State the Monarch is able to hold the different branches of Government apart from each other and to provide the "checks and balances" that are required for democratic government. By being hereditary the Crown can stand above politics.

[Jimbuna]

[... but I feel there are too many 'hangers on' ...
Nemo

Totally agree with you there. Please do not make the mistake, that so many do, of lumping Royalty in with aristocracy, they are separate things.

For my part I would like to see the aristocracy abolished today and the long overdue reform of the House of Lords completed. The honours system should be scrapped, except for military honours. We Brits are always remarking about how easy it seems to be to win a medal in the American forces. I have seen USN Midshipmen, fresh out of Annapolis, with more medals than my Dad got in a World War, and yet we hand out civil honours by the bucket load to long serving and well paid civil servants and to minor celebrities. The honours system is a joke.

The Monarchy however, does work. It provides a figurehead for not only the Home Nations of the UK but also the Commonwealth and her "Other Realms and Territories Overseas". By holding no power other than the loyalty of the State the Monarch is able to hold the different branches of Government apart from each other and to provide the "checks and balances" that are required for democratic government. By being hereditary the Crown can stand above politics.

Very well said sir :up:

[bradclark1]

Charles probably had a few scotch's dreaming the unthinkable.

[Sailor Steve]

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she doesn't have a lot to say.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she changes from day to day.

I want to tell her I love her a lot,
But I gotta have a bellyfull of wine.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
Someday I'm going to make her mine.
Oh yeah, some day I'm gonna make her mine!

[The Avon Lady]

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she doesn't have a lot to say.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she changes from day to day.

I want to tell her I love her a lot,
But I gotta have a bellyfull of wine.

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
Someday I'm going to make her mine.
Oh yeah, some day I'm gonna make her mine!
t-w-a-a-a-a-n-g

[kiwi_2005]

is that a new spy mind controlling sig you got there avon? :D

[The Avon Lady]

is that a new spy mind controlling sig you got there avon? :D
Here, eat these mudpies.