I am confused........

She is a focal point for good will. I watched the documentary including her various private reels of film. Her voiceover was very interesting and, I thought, revealing. The world has more people of good will and kindness but we don't tend to hear much about this. She obviously appreciates this and strives to encourage it. She is a great encourager. I don't mean pat on the head stuff although I'm sure you'll reframe this as that. Her attention and interest in people over the years and all over the world has made people feel better. That's not a bad thing.
Her long term experience of 14 prime ministers is pretty useful too.

Zoejory
I am NOT remotely muddled up about service. Service is what we do for the country and for other people. Opening a hospital is simply not comparable to the service the majority of people who work, sometimes voluntarily, but mostly for pay, put in every day. Without those workers, everything we require and need would not be available. We don’t actually need anyone to officially open a hospital or ward, but we do need the medics to staff it, the cleaners to clean it, the porters to transport people etc. That is service.
What do you think is service?

So she is responsible for a warm fuzzy feeling. Not convinced.

What good was she as Head of State when parliament was illegally prorogued? What good is she now that we have a law breaking PM?

She's meant to be Head of State, not encourager in chief

And I agree with volver 100%.

volver

So what service has the Queen actually done then?

What have we got that we wouldn't have otherwise?

It is said that she has been a great encourager. She has certainly encouraged the tradition of bowing and curtsying and giving knighthoods. We wouldn’t have Baron Lebedev without Royal approval.

This thread is pointless because no-one will change their mind after reading what someone else thinks.

Whereas the cling film is too clingy thread is a service to humanity.

This thread is very useful for firing up arguers who are always looking for something to disagree with. Fair enough. There's plenty to disagree on in life. Luckily, we live in a free country with an independent head of state.

maddyone

Zoejory
I am NOT remotely muddled up about service. Service is what we do for the country and for other people. Opening a hospital is simply not comparable to the service the majority of people who work, sometimes voluntarily, but mostly for pay, put in every day. Without those workers, everything we require and need would not be available. We don’t actually need anyone to officially open a hospital or ward, but we do need the medics to staff it, the cleaners to clean it, the porters to transport people etc. That is service.
What do you think is service?

Of course you are. The serving the monarch does can NOT be compared with our medical health workers.

I know. I worked for many years in a hospital and also have children who are doctors.

I'm not hugely into monarchy. I am no intellect. But I am well aware that service to the public via a monarch is absolutely nothing to do with the brilliant service by health workers.

volver

Whereas the cling film is too clingy thread is a service to humanity.

Well it got people thinking about why they’re using the stuff and maybe converted some to more planet friendly methods. I’d call that worthwhile.

I agree Maggiemaybe because it's actually made me plan to ditch cling film!

That’s great, Chestnut!

Go on let’s take away the colour and anything relating to what few other countries have and envy. Let’s have a President who can command obedience. Let’s get rid of Parliament. Let’s get rid of tradition. Let’s get rid of the interest and fun associated with a Royal family. We don’t want the Royal family to tour the world promoting what little we have left to be proud of. I with you in a 1984 dystopian world. Grey and miserable.

Good points Lovetopaint037

do wonder how many on here making their trifle and putting out the bunting etc. were amongst those howling for her blood back at the time of the death of Diane!!!!

No 0ne has yet listed even one thing that can be called Service to the Country - just vague ideas that having come quite young to the throne and been long lived and having the title 'Queen' must equal service!!!!

Does only your definition of 'service' count? There are others. ?

Sorry but I am not mixed up about service. I know exactly what service is. The Queen has been well paid for her service, unlike others. My daughter is also a doctor, and having children who are doctors has nothing to do with my opinion.

Franbern

do wonder how many on here making their trifle and putting out the bunting etc. were amongst those howling for her blood back at the time of the death of Diane!!!!

No 0ne has yet listed even one thing that can be called Service to the Country - just vague ideas that having come quite young to the throne and been long lived and having the title 'Queen' must equal service!!!!

Thank you for agreeing with me Franbern. The service of the Queen can barely be called service. She is well paid for what she does, on top of her huge inherited wealth.
I would like a truly democratic country, with no royal family and no second house based on inheritance and nepotism. A truly modern and democratic state.
The royals could continue to live well on their personal wealth but would no longer be paid by the rest of us.

Just looked up the definition of service. It is;

the action of helping or doing work for someone

do wonder how many on here making their trifle and putting out the bunting etc. were amongst those howling for her blood back at the time of the death of Diane!!!!

What an odd thing to wonder. Perhaps you could take a headcount.

I’ll start. So far I’ve got one flag on a stick stuck in a plant pot in my front yard, and I might yet have a go at that trifle if I can find some unseasonal mixed peel, but I have never in my life howled for anyone’s blood. Or for anything else, for that matter.

What’s the AIBU, by the way?

do wonder how many on here making their trifle and putting out the bunting etc. were amongst those howling for her blood back at the time of the death of Diane!!!!
Diana was her forename.

Yes, I agree, Maggiemaybe, a very odd thing to say indeed.

HM did the right thing at the time as a loving grandmother, trying to protect those poor boys from the media .
It was Blair who called her "The People's Princess" (!) and demanded we all share a piece of those poor boys in their grief. It was mawkish and horrendous.
Disgraceful.

I would rather have a head of state who would probably prefer to do something else with their life ,than a politician who wants the job.
Our community came together during lockdown and this our
celebration that we promised ourselves during the dark days of Covid.

The coronation

I won’t be celebrating the long life of a very privileged lady. Instead I shall, as I do most days, have a cup of afternoon tea with a neighbour the same age. She had a difficult life and worked very hard but has been left house bound without adequate social care. No chauffeur driven golf buggy or abundant flunkies for her

Bah humbug! I think she does her duty as she sees it and I've nothing against her personally but not sure about 70 years + on the public purse given her wealth. I'm not a republican - I would worry about replacing her by some second rate, superannuated politician or some celeb from the media, sport or entertainment. And it could have been Mrs Thatcher or (in another world) Mr Corbyn.