True, she has hardly ever put a foot wrong. Her life has been one of commitment and duty, all the same my take on the monarchy, any monarchy, is that it is an anachronism.
With the economic uncertainties and constitutional disorientation it is clear to many that an unthinking acceptance of, or deference to, the institution of the monarchy can no longer be tolerated. I struggle to find any argument in favour of retaining the monarchy and believe that the Royal Family are an expensive burden to modern British society. Tourism of a historic nature would continue to flourish without them as it does in the republic of France.
Our present-day monarchy masquerades as historical tradition but in truth is a business enterprise which owes its favoured status to the British taxpayer. The cost of maintaining “the Firm”, is wholly unacceptable at a time when food banks proliferate amidst a rise in real poverty, particularly amongst those families on low incomes. Figures released by Buckingham Palace last month inform us that the price of having a monarchy last year rose by approximately 44 per cent, meaning that £67 million was lavished on private jets, trains, trips abroad, refurbishment of ostentatious homes and palaces and on literally, thousands of staff.
In a society where funding for health and education often fall victim to recession and there are increasing concerns with homelessness and material privation, the monarchy is an immoral, injudicious and scandalous waste of time and money.
The actress Helen Mirren, who starred as the Queen herself in the eponymous movie was quoted as saying: "I loathe the British class system, and the Royal Family are the apex of the British class system.” Without a class system we wouldn't have Lords & Ladies or Knights or any titles like: "The Honorable."
There are many who think as I do but say nothing because of being branded a "Leftie." There's no shame in supporting left wing views but it is particularly galling when, for me, my politics has always been right of centre.