It's a Royal Washout!

Torrential rain sees 438 people treated for hypothermia at yesterday's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, 71 were hospitalised - I suspect one particular 86 year old woman was not one of those who suffered too much

Monarchy would not have continued so many ages in the world, had it not been for the abuses it protects. It is the master-fraud, which shelters all others.
Thomas Paine

In Britain, there is — and I ask you not to forget it — a monarchy... Now a monarchy cannot be depicted from any point of view as an expression of the highest culture, as one of the highest attainments of mankind... In Britain there is still to this day an aristocracy enjoying distinctions of rank. There is a House of Lords. In Britain, finally, the church, or rather the churches, wield tremendous influence in all spheres of life...And if you approach Britain one-sidedly from this aspect, that is, from the aspect of the monarchy, the House of Lords, the aristocracy, landlordism and church influence, then you would doubtless say that the most barbarous and backward country in Europe is Britain... The British monarchy, hypocritical British conservatism, religiosity, servility, sanctimoniousness all this is old rags, rubbish, the refuse of centuries which we have no need for whatsoever.
Leon Trotsky

As I believe in neither God nor the Queen, what is the point in calling on one to save the other?
Paul Foot recalling his response when he was once harangued for failing to stand-up and sing the National Anthem at the cinema.