I love the ceremonies and all the trimmings, it is a piece of living history, and long may it remain

It's all showbiz. 

As long as the important stuff is treated properly then I can't be bothered being bothered.
If we become a republic then can I have Prince Harry please if he's going spare? 

I think nobody does pomp and ceremony like us Brits
As well as tourism I believe the Queen influences foreign companies to invest here.

I had a dream about seeing the Queen drive by in a car last night.  I was crying with joy.

I love it - it's part of our history.
I like the Royal Family, though I think there are far too many hangers-on.

I was watching Phil The Greek during the 2 minutes silence at the 'membrance service on TV.  No way was he thinking of the fallen!  I love that man.  He should come fitted with thought bubbles.

I am not at all happy with all they own, ie Charlie boys owns have the acreage in England, then there's people (and children) no proper food, shoes, decent place to live, cannot be right.

The alternative to the Queen and her family are the armoured tanks and cars travelling into the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, with outriders carrying guns a la a Police State.  The Queen brings stability to this country and because she can trace her ancestors back for nearly a thousand years (save one blip in the 17th Century) the system has to be seen as something that works.  Continuity, tradition and pomp are what the British gain and when likened to other countries who have no monarchy (Italy, France, etc) there is a certain kudos to be gained for having retained something that the majority of people in the country want.  When Charles II returned from exile in 1660, he was welcomed with open arms by his 'subjects' and the British have, since that day, preferred their Monarchy to the alternative .. Oliver Cromwell, and a kind of Police State.

Even though I am Irish, I love watching all the pomp and ceremony.  And I think the Queen is someone to cherish.  She made a speech in her little squeaky 21 year old voice way back then to 'devote her life to the people of Britain'.  She has kept her promise.

Cromwell banned Christmas, didn't he? 

Those Puritans!

Mostly harmless.

You do mock me Sir!     Far better the Parliament now than the Parliament then when the New Model Army were sitting in force of arms on the benches.

Methinks you are a bit of a roundhead DanielJ. 

  *sniggers*

Are you refering to his  "Herman?"

I don't know DanielJ but I suspect he's more of a roundhead than a cavalier, but don't ask me why.

Crossy, what's a 'herman'.  Are we talking about the Munsters here, or what?

It comes from an expression "German Helmet!"
Don't make me explain any further.

*taps nose*   nothing to do with the Munsters at all at all at all

I am sure DanielJ will be forthcoming with an explanation in due course, so I will act dumb crossy (that won't be too hard) lol

 *still sniggering* I reckon he's a cavalier myself. 

It's bad enough hearing the things that he allows to come out of his mouth.  I don't think I could take the subconscious ramblings.

Queen, why you say that?  Does Dan wear a feather in his cap?

haha Blizz, you are naughty.  We just need Dan to 'come out' now and choose his affiliation banana.

BOT  It only costs 69p each to keep the Queen where she is.  Cheap at half the price, and the pomp and ceremony are thrown in for free.

Well I'm hardly like to find out personally, but nothing that Dan does would surprise me.

How roooode!

I wet myself at his joke when he was giving out awards to British Indian 'achievers' last month.  The people all had name badges on and he told Atul Patel that he'd noticed he had a lot of his family receiving awards that day.  I'm pretty sure he was joking but he knows no fear about stuff like that.  It's such a crap joke but out of his mouth at an official function it's genius. 

I think its a sign of becoming middle aged.... appreciating ol Phil.    I pmsl when he was at Chelsea Flower Show and ask one of the specialist stand holders what type of plants they were.   The stand holder replied using a couple of sentences... to which Phil responds "I only wanted to know what they were, I didn't want a bloody lecture"...

hahaha!  ... someone steer him towards Carol Klein or Monty Cocknose!  

Yes, he does seem to take a cavalier attitude towards most things (only joking Dan!) but I can see him in a jaunty hat with a feather, for all that

Yes!  Heads in baskets.  Vive La France!