Another one bites the dust.

Peaceful? 3 Wars of Independence, Napoleon III's intervention, a coup by
Mussolini . Certainly was.

Technically they had a referendum in 1946, but it wouldn't have happened
without the preceding decades of nastiness, and a shed load of Allied
troops wandering about the place to quell the skirmishes between
monarchists, republicans and post-facists.

 

It wasn't really a coup: the king decided to hand over power, rather
than have it taken. Mussolini could have been crushed at that point.

As for the referendum in 1946, the main factor there was that the PCI
decided to behave consitutionally.

 

If, and it's a big is, Charlie boy ever ascends to monarchy I expect that
will see it off. However mummy is likely to see him off to the bitter end
and I'm afraid the working and chattering masses (1) will clasp the new pair
to their breasts.

She must realise her eldest boy would be death to the concept of a monarchy.

I'm kinda in favour of things which set the UK as different and notable in
the world and it isn't as if they have any real power. I can think of a
couple of constitutional points on which it might be useful for them to hold
a veto. That might have prevented some of the legal fuckups of the last
shower, as the House of Lords proved lacking.

Better idea though, a proper Constitution and Bill of Rights and give the
army responsibility for dragging the judiciary or MP's into the street for
summary execution should they try to subvert it. I'm looking at my Turkish
assistant as I type this )

(1) and as a socialist the will of said masses must prevail?

 

at least the annual "**** me, we've never had rain like this" panic has
knocked the story off the top of the news bulletins. For now.

 

Oddly, I kind of agree, provided...

....this. Which I was just wondering myself.

 

Better, demolish (or, at least, repurpose) the palace of westminster.
Build a modern home for parliament. And do away with all that Black Rod
and ermine shit. Then maybe the commons and senate (see what I did
there?) would be more of a grown-up institution and not the third-rate
fucking pantomime it is today.

The pomp and circumstance belongs in the history books, not our
government.

 

I'm pleased for all of them.

 

No, that would just make me sad.

I always pause when I pass a wedding, to enjoy the sight of two happy
(I assume) people. It also gives Pat the chance to appraise the
outfits.

 

Dirty old man.

 

Is she a Ural or Watsonian fan?

 

I'm not particularly anti-monarchy, but I do think if Charles takes
the throne we'll be the laughing stock, who on earth thought it would
be a good idea to have a monarch named after a type of small dog?

 

reluctantly snipped

I thought you'd written it, didn't look beyond the Cha at the
beginning.

 

Laughing stock? Shirley you jest. Remember, the Leader Of The Free
World was once an actor who starred in "Bedtime For Bonzo." The bar
for laughing stock has been raised far above Charles' paltry attempt.

 

No, it wasn't closed. But, the section I was on (around Milton Keynes),
everybody stopped, on both sides of the carriageway, and got out of
their cars to watch the hearse go by.

 

Mind you, if you had the opportunity, you'd have to shag her, just to
be able to say you had.

 

"Being asked to be Best Man is a bit like being asked to shag the Queen
Mother. It's a real honour, but you don't *really* want to do it"

 

Ohhhh, you mean you want something like the Scottish parliament. Hugely
expensive, no sense of history (in building or policy) and fugly as feck.

The ceremony and building is part of history. A govmint without a keen sense
of and detailed knowledge of history is a dangerous animal.

Obviously the Yanks don't have that because they are to young to have any.

 

Your history is a tad thin on this one.
The peanut farmer made the USA a laughing stock, Ronnie gave them back
their self respect. Not perfect, but one of the better examples.

 

Your idea of honour is waaay different from mine.

 

It's a horrible POS IMHO

Contrary ****!
I hope the surroundings at least help them to look back before looking
forward.