I read about a lot about the queen last week and she actually has been a very good monarch, I'm rather fond of our royal family and would love to see her when she tours the country this summer. I'm not sure how Charles & Camilla will fair as king & queen, I personally have nothing against them but the general public still blame them for Diana's unhappiness so I doubt they'll be popular. William & Kate however, I'm very excited for, I believe they will be a marvellous king & queen and I wish them both a very long and happy reign

I'm utterly against the monarchy as an institution. It's outdated, elitist and completely unacceptable in a modern democracy.

 

Of course the MPs and Powers that Be will want to hang on to it because if they did get rid of it, there would have to be a far reaching debate on the constitution and the powers that are reserved to the Crown.

In olden times those would be under the control of the monarch, nominally they still are but in reality they are exercised by the PM and cabinet - without any consultation to parliament and the wider country being necessary.

 

As to the national anthem, as I said in the footy thread, I never sing it. I don't mind the tune but the words are unacceptable to me. And it is not the anthem of England; it is the anthem of the UK and as such should not be sung when an England sportsperson or team is competing. I think it should be Land of Hope and Glory but I'm not sure

A national anthem should be about the land it celebrates and the culture and people of that land.

Not one person no matter how privileged.

 

I'm with Veggie 

I'm most certainly not a monarchist, but I don't have a problem with the Royal family, especially since the Civil List was pared down and most of the minor royals aren't being financed by the public any more.  I do think that the Queen has been an excellent monarch and will be a hard act to follow.  I think Charles is capable of doing a good job, providing he hasn't lost his marbles by the time he becomes King, and I think Camilla will make a far, far better Queen consort than Diana could ever have been. 

 

Whilst God Save the QUeen is the UK national anthem, England doesn't have an official national anthem.  For some sporting events, Jerusalem is played for the English team (ie the Commonwealth Games), but usually the anthem used is God Save the Queen.  I think Land of hope and glory used to be played at international rugby matches and some other sporting events, but I don't think that's the case any more. 

A national anthem should be something you can belt out with pride   It should be a declaration to your country as opposed to a person, I think.

 

The irish national anthem is out of date too, I'd like to see that changed to the Rugby anthem

I couldn't give a stuff about any of them.

Most National Anthems sound like depressing dirges to me.  I like the French one, though

I love the French one too.

Word perfect in Das Deutschlandlied although normally before footie games we intersperse various German players.

The French one is the only one that I like, ours is a dirge with a very anti Scottish verse in it.

I could get very pedantic and ask as this country doesn't have a written constution, who actually runs the joint?

May I refer you to my previous answer...... Murdoch, american firms, and a bunch of corrupt bankers, none of whom have any legitimate rights to do so.

But rather like verse 1,2 and 4 of the German one no-one sings it.  

I'm very amiss; you are right off course.

 

 

According to mrs jer I've been right off course all day!

I change over the minute I hear it.

 

Lite rebel.

 

Total shocker it is.