h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>she has no power!

A fair enough comment. But have you never looked up at a massively old and gnarled tree and thought "Ooh, vaguely impressive in a 'it's absolutely huge with branches all over the place, but it doesn't actually do anything other than give a sense of history and heritage'"?

If you're still conscious and reading this after that tremendously bad metaphor, then congratulations.

To go back to the tree, would you rather have it growing (admittedly to some expense) naturally in a field, or cut down and preserved in a museum, sterile and bland and free of front page scandal?

But more to the point, have I made any sense whatsoever?

>she has no power!

A fair enough comment. But have you never looked up at a massively old and gnarled tree and thought "Ooh, vaguely impressive in a 'it's absolutely huge with branches all over the place, but it doesn't actually do anything other than give a sense of history and heritage'"?

If you're still conscious and reading this after that tremendously bad metaphor, then congratulations.

To go back to the tree, would you rather have it growing (admittedly to some expense) naturally in a field, or cut down and preserved in a museum, sterile and bland and free of front page scandal?

But more to the point, have I made any sense whatsoever?

I like the tree metaphor.

And also, the Queen has power if we listen to her - which I think the majority of people would if it came to the crunch. Also, having a figurehead is important, I think, for the morale of a nation, and its... well... nationhood. If there's not something people can band behind to identify themselves as a nation, they're not going to behave like one. The Monarchy provides that, and for me it's far better than bandying behind a load of politicians (or one politician) who worm their way into the position by not-quite-lying about everything they plan to do. Or, of course, lying about everything they plan to do.

I would far rather swear allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen than whoever happens to be Prime Minister at the time (or rather, the office of Prime Minister). Probably because I wouldn't worry that she was going to go and do something really, really dumb with such an oath. Of course, there are very few occasions such a thing would be required. I can't remember if the police still swear to serve the Queen, or if they swear to serve the country or something else. Hmm... I'll have to look it up.