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Elizabeth has been the Queen of England most of my life.

Most of hers too, as it turns out.

She will be ninety soon. How time flies.

A Busy Queen Elizabeth II Pencils In a 90th Birthday

I learned a lot from reading this actually. It turns out that I did not know everything about her.

The reason for the hats and the vivid clothes is so people can see her, pick her out in the constant crowd.

I have some British friends who are less than impressed with the Royals. I can understand that. But Americans are suckers for royalty. Any kind.

And the old lady is the best kind.

She knows her place and it is back from the front lines. More than an adornment for the tourists, she is a necessary fixture in the house that has stood for centuries.

Our American fascination with her and them is based, I think, on a desire to be led, the chafe and discomfort of democracy. We would really like to have it over with. This election stuff. Give us a king or queen and forget all this two party system quadrennial anxiety.

But then look at England and the Empire. It still endures but in a very different state. We don't have much of an empire either for that matter.

Oh well. I guess we will have to trudge the road without the guiding hand of an all knowing birth ordained leader. When we wonder how and why dictators gain power we do not have to look far beyond that yearning.

Labels: royalty

LEEF LANG DE KONING

Look at the Dutch.

They have a new king.

Queen Beatrix to Abdicate in the Netherlands

I like that this is still done some places and in a very democratic way.

He is a water works expert. Of course! The boy with his thumb in the dike. The Dutch know more about water management than anyone, well, close to more, anyhow.

And look at this.

Unlike royal rituals in England, there was no religious blessing or coronation.

The Dutch are very laid back about all this and so are able to take it a lot more seriously. If you are willing to wear a wildly orange wig and a lot of other similar clothing.

There is a quality of taking it very seriously but, also, not taking it too seriously.

Labels: royalty