Queen Elizabeth’s 60th Anniversary

I’ve had several e-mails, pointing out how remiss I was in not marking Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne last Monday.

I guess the truth is I didn’t think it particularly important. I’m not anti-Royalist, nor am I indifferent to Royalty, but prefer to think I occupy a position of neutrality. Like many people here I tend to think Royalty has not moved with the times.

Many British people believe we have chosen this rather odd form of government, where instead of having a president we have a monarch for good, commonsense reasons: namely because they have no political affiliation and represent the whole country better than a politician. But the truth is we didn’t actively choose the system, it is a lingering historical anachronism that for one reason or the other we have been convinced we shouldn’t shed.

In many ways the Queen does a sterling job of representing the both the Nation and the Commonwealth but Royalty seem to make the perpetual mistake of surrounding themselves with their own kind and often end up hopelessly out of touch with the mood of the nation (which isn’t always a bad thing), but reality is quite another issue. The Queen's handling of the death of Diana demonstrated just how stubborn and out of touch she could be and that is at best. Ironic then it took the British Prime Minister in the form of Tony Blair to save her.

Deep down I have this lingering romantic attachment to the notion of Royalty, but like many I’m waiting to see if the next generation of Royals will get a better handle on things.

I know many Americans get quite excited by the idea of Royalty. Maybe we could rent the Queen out for say 100,000 Apple Macs?

Meanwhile you can always drop in HERE