Let's get rid of the monarchy

It's a common cry.  Repeated by various politicians over the years.  It costs us money they say.  The Queen and her family just 'inherited' all that land and those castles, it's not fair.  These people never actually say where they think the castles and land would be more fairly distributed, but they like to give the impression that they would know what to do with them, oh yes!  And it would be so much 'fairer' for everyone if they were in charge and did so.

The Queen costs every tax payer in the country approx £0.62 pence.  For this we have a vastly experienced stateswoman representing our country and its interests abroad and at home.  She is involved in countless charitable works, as is her consort Prince Phillip. Even better, whenever Her Majesty appears as our representative she does so with no hidden political agenda.

Imagine the alternative.  Cameron/Clegg/Blair or Milliband representing our country abroad?  They would also require all the paraphenalia incumbent to such a position so they would not cost a great deal less than Her Majesty.  Any such person would have been elected whilst standing for a party and it's political agenda, and whatever they would say on coming to office they would carry this with them.  

They would also never be able to compete with the Queen on experience.  I have tried, very hard to think of an occasion over the last 60 years when our Queen has made a faux pas at an important event.  When she has allowed her own feelings to show about whomever she is required to meet at an important diplomatic function.  I can't think of one.  Admittedly there have been one or two 'bloopers' from Prince Phillip, but over the years I think the British public have come to rather expect and secretly enjoy those.

Numerous Prime Ministers have come and gone in those 60 years.  Quite a few of them have been unashamed republicans, all of them have come to admit to an admiration for the woman in the position they claim to abhor.  Indeed, we have a whole nation of fervent Royalists who just "love your Queen and her grandkids".  Yes, our friends in America who went to such lengths to be free from a monarchy but strangely just can't enough of ours.  Australia has had several votes on whether to remain in the Commonwealth or whether to leave.  To date they have always chosen to remain in the family of countries presided over by the Queen.

For the last 60 years our Queen has fulfilled her promise to 'devote her life, whether it be short or long to the service of my people'.  She has done so with a quiet dignity and assurance that none have matched.  On state occasions the Royal household put on a display of perfection and precision admired and envied throughout the world, and all for £0.62 pence per taxpayer.  Worth every penny.