OT- The Queen's Christmas Day Message to the Commonwealth

[Romanis]

It still resonates and means a lot to a lot of people. This year's message was poignant.
God Save the Queen!

[ramAnag]

Sorry Rom, not a day for disagreeing and I know she does well for an old lady but, aren’t they all a bit of an a anachronism now...do many folk actually listen anymore? Personally I don’t recall listening to one in colour.

[Andy_Faber]

Sorry Rom, not a day for disagreeing and I know she does well for an old lady but, aren’t they all a bit of an a anachronism now...do many folk actually listen anymore?

Many millions do R, most of which appear to populate my Facebook and twitter feeds and/or know my wife and mother in laws mobile numbers! My closest musical friend asked me to call him to wake him up (he works shifts as a nurse) so he saw it ‘live’. My trolling of social media has taught me that we all live inside our own social bubble (and sometimes many), mine had queenie front and centre earlier....

[ramAnag]

Many millions do R, most of which appear to populate my Facebook and twitter feeds and/or know my wife and mother in laws mobile numbers! My closest musical friend asked me to call him to wake him up (he works shifts as a nurse) so he saw it ‘live’. My trolling of social media has taught me that we all live inside our own social bubble (and sometimes many), mine had queenie front and centre earlier....

Fair enough Andy, each to their own, I bet many millions more watched Dr. Who and Eastenders but I don’t have to take them seriously either. There were nine of us sitting down to Christmas Dinner at the time and I don’t think it occurred to anyone to press ‘record’.

[Manofpride]

Sorry Rom, not a day for disagreeing and I know she does well for an old lady but, aren’t they all a bit of an a anachronism now...do many folk actually listen anymore? Personally I don’t recall listening to one in colour.

Has this got anything to do that she's a Brexiteer?

[ramAnag]

Has this got anything to do that she's a Brexiteer?

Is she? I wouldn’t know.
As for ‘incalculable’ value to tourism...I’m sure tourists come to visit the Royal related landmarks, but beyond that... they’re not really relevant imo.
I think the Palace of Versailles is the most visited Palace in Europe...seems quite a while since there was a French Royal Family.

[exilecanada]

It still resonates and means a lot to a lot of people. This year's message was poignant.
God Save the Queen!

I can’t agree more, I watched Her Majesties address today, as I always do. The ‘Royals’ are an institution to cherish. They, and what they stand for, bring in so many tourists to the UK, the benefit is incalculable.

Long live the Queen and her heirs.

[swaledale]

I can’t agree more, I watched Her Majesties address today, as I always do. The ‘Royals’ are an institution to cherish. They, and what they stand for, bring in so many tourists to the UK, the benefit is incalculable.

Long live the Queen and her heirs.

Jeez, it seems a long time before we become a mature democracy when we are happy to kiss ass to a bunch of foreigners who it seems hold a place in the strata of our society by accident of birth!

The French had the right idea, an unelected head of State (even with limited powers) merely enforces the influence of the establishment and kind of accepts that the wealth and land they now "own" is legitimate which was in fact appropriated by the current royal family's ancestors and handed out to those who kissed ass and kept the peasants quiet.

A few contradictions - Head of the Church, where does it say anywhere in that book of fiction aka The Bible that the Head of the Church should live in luxury and amazing wealth (seems the opposite of Jesus's teachings to me ho hum).


The very same people who seem to be in favour of Brexit and against the EU seems very happy to buy into the concept of an unaccountable unelected european Royal family bizarre!

Funny how ex pats are those most fervently in favour of keeping the Royals - guys if you were so ****ing fond of the Uk why dont you live here?

[roger_ramjet]

I think she is a Remainer like most Germans, especially when married to Greeks...

[Romanis]

I do realise many or some think it's stupid to have an unelected head of state. Worse to have someone born into such privilege.

However until you live abroad or perhaps observe how some other democracies sans royals work, you realise hey it's not a bad to have someone outside politics to have a final say in determining who forms the Govt. Or even further, to act as an unbiased referee in certain conditions. Add to the fact you have someone who's been long in the job, such a person can have immeasurable benefit during a crisis.
More so in countries where you have a de facto head of state, like a Governor General. If that person becomes unworthy of high office, he can be removed by the Queen easily without a need for a drawn out political circus.

Maybe we don't need so many royals but I think having a Sovereign as constitutional monarch is a very good thing.