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

I'm going to get my popcorn.

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

Happy Birthday!

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

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!

Cheers to the Queen :D

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

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.

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: You would think of geraniums when every other able-bodied man is out fighting!
Dr. Peter Blood: Hmm. It's out of favor I seem to be with you, my vinegary virgin.
Mrs. Barlow: Half the town is saying you're a Papist.
Dr. Peter Blood: 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: And the other half of the town that defends you claims that you're just a coward.
Dr. Peter Blood: 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.

I refuse to have anything to do with motorcycles!
Ah! Errol Flynn!

/swoons

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

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: