Our Queen

I agree with your last paragraph, Anniebach

I was lucky enough to meet Alan Rickman at a film premiere a number of years ago. I was so overcome by his gorgeousness that I was rendered speechless and gawping like a goldfish, despite being a middle-aged, married, mother of four.

I've never met the Queen.

You met him Sue? Oh I am sixteen again, did be speak and if yes was his voice realy as in his films, do say yes

What should they be wearing then? Boden (Marks and Sparks and boring catalogue clothes all rolled in one) or do you recon they need to get Victoria Beckham on board and let her do a bit for her OBE.

i deliberately squeezed behind Alan Rickman in a theatre bar..just so I could say I had touched his bum

Sorry if someone has already posted this but I read an article the other day saying that it is very 'middle class' for boys to wear long trousers before the age of eight which is why royal Georgie is always in shorts!

I don't know much about Balmoral but Sandringham House and gardens are open to the public when the Queen is not in residence. Popular tourist attractions bring in a fair bit of dosh all round.

Wasn't Sandringham purchased by Edward VII and now belongs to the Queen? If so, who gets the fair bit of dosh?

I wonder what would happen if the Queen didn't read any of the stuff in the famous red boxes. Would the sky fall in? Also, what is in the red boxes to read while the MPs are on their hols or do the red boxes have a vacation as well?

What I meant was that local businesses benefit from Sandringham House and gardens being open to the public because it's very much a part of the tourist's list of places to visit in North Norfolk.

Penstemmon , I would have done the same.

This is something I have problems with Merlotgran, London benefits, North Norfolk benefits, do thry psy more tax

Why should a publican or B&B owner pay more tax just because their business is successful?

Well yes, because the more you earn the more tax you pay.

I don't pay any so I don't contribute anything to the upkeep of the Royal Family myself.

No more than the rest of the country Jalima,

I think as someone else said, the Queen has an excellent grasp of the political situation and is very aware of the problems which exist throughout the world. I for one would not want to be doing her job at 90, endless meetings, banquets,opening things etc, there must be so many times when all she wants to do is put up her feet and have a gin & tonic . Definitely not all beer and skittles .

I Just heard on the radio the Queen did not attend church again today. Although it is reported that she is up and about and going through her red boxes. Lets hope she is on the road to recovery and soon will be seen in public once more.

Anniebach yes, his voice really is (or was ) that slow, dreamy timbre. Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law were also there. AR was speaking to someone while I spoke to ET & PL. I asked them if they'd get his autograph for me and Phyllida went 'Oi, Alan! Your autograph is wanted over here!'

Cheeky, Penstemmon!

Sue, I am pea green with envy , happy to know that fabulous voice was not the result of studio sets , ahhhhhhh

Believe me (and those who've had this particular cold will back me up) two weeks with this virus is nothing. One symptom is a sudden, and violent bout of coughing which can last for 10 or more minutes. I don't wonder that a 90 year old would rather not make an exhibition of herself in church like that, queen or no queen carerof123

And that sudden bout of coughing can erupt just as you are congratulating yourself on being past the worst and just about fit for civilised company again.

I missed a Christingle service, a carol service and another service because of this virus. Still coughing and snuffling and I am much younger than HM.
The weather was dreadful today, no good for a chesty cough.

Or trying to type a post without any errors.

My two penneth
I think the queen is probably quite poorly maybe ready to pop her clogs I think she should have downed tools a long time ago
I think Charles will make an excellent head and should have had the job years back
I think the Royal children are dressed atrociously
I don't think it matters one jot who William or anyone else spends Christmas with
I think they cost the country far too much, and I think they should be pared down
I think it's funny Nellie says it's none of our business but has obviously read the thread to take part in it
I think I ll hide now

blubelle . The Royalists will hunt you down .

I agree with you especially the paring down !

I hope the Queen is feeling better though , it is a rotten virus .

I wonder how many tourists visit Sandringham because of the Queen? it's only open when she' s not there, so,presumably it could be an attraction even if we didn't have a Queen just like any other Stately home. I also don't buy the idea that tourists come to London because of the royals. How many tourists see the Queen? They come to London because of the historic buildings, theatres and attractions like the London eye.

jalima I can understand why Andrew is annoyed, we have 2 Princesses without protection but we taxpayers pay well over £1m a year to protect Tony Blair and we even up his security detail when he visits the Middle East.