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Steve Regan is a writer who lives in New Brighton. He’s a performance poet and a rebel. He drinks in a pub he calls Hell’s Waiting Room and a late bar known as The Lost Weekend. Steve has an unusual take on modern life – as you’ll discover …

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Titter ye not at the Queen

November 27, 2007 12:19 PM | 

YOU can scoff at the British royal family. You can titter at President George W Bush.
And plenty among Britain’s nasty, sneering, liberal intelligentsia do not hesitate to do both.
But what can’t be denied, after watching Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work (BBC1, Mondays), is that the Queen is a deeply impressive woman.
I would even say she’s likeable, if a bit scary to us mere mortals. She certainly has shed loads of dignity and a steely glamour.

This series was famous even before it hit our screens – after its makers stupidly faked a scene with Her Maj storming off after being asked to remove her tiara.
Despite that rather big hiccup – which claimed the scalps of BBC 1 controller Peter Fincham and the ‘chief creative officer’ (ha!) of the tuppenny bit indie production company that made the series – the result is very compelling viewing.
t was amazing to see US President Bush and the First Lady Laura discuss in intimate detail the preparations they were making for a visit Stateside by the old dear in specs we Brits see on telly every Crimbo delivering a homily for the nation.
The President showed how warm and down-to-earth he is by saying of the Queen: “Behind an important title is a very kind and compassionate woman.�
Great PR for him and Lizzie Windsor alike – but also great television.
And it was very touching to see provincial American society preparing assiduously for the royal visit to Virginia.
They’d all been told not to behave as typical ‘touchy-feely Americans’ when they met the Queen. Sweet.

Comments (8)

Lord Vino du Matin wrote...

Sorry mate, but despite being a sometime member of the aristocracy, I think they should all be got rid of. 'Specially the Greek one. Your mix of nostalgia, false nationalism and snobbery is frankly abhorrent.....
REGAN REPLIED: That's me told, then.

Posted by: Lord Vino du Matin  | November 27, 2007 7:49 PM

Smokehouse wrote...

Hi Steve, where to start on this one? Well its not so much shooting fish in a barrel its more like harpooning a dolphin in your bathtub. I personaly have nothing against Prince Philiip or Dear old Liz. I dont even have anything to complain about the Greeks coming over here to marry our Germans. (Phillip is Greek for those who dont know and is still in exile, to the best of my knowledge, from Greece, who won't let him back in. Do they know something we dont?) Lizzy Windsor , sorry Betty Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, certainly wont be praying her winter heating allowance comes through before the baillifs arrive at her door to dis-connect the gas. No indeed they are probably both hard working people but I have never subscribed to the silver spoon and all that money can buy approach to childhood or birthright. Patriotic I may be, but oh to have been part of the French proletariat during the 1790's. As for Bush saying she is warm and compassionate, I bet he would have choked on those words if Princess Di had been HIS daughter!
Incidentally this is from someone who has a Union Jack and the Flag of St George flying in his garden!!
Take care mate.

Posted by: Smokehouse  | November 28, 2007 6:21 PM

alberre wrote...

Tell Smokehouse there is a free pint in "whats Its Names" when I am there cos he talks sense.

SO HERE IT IS MERRY XMAS EVERYBODIES HAVING FUN LOOK TO TALLULAHS ITS ONLY JUST BR GONE.

HERES TO SS PETERS AND PAULS prehaphs Santa will give us the presents we all want.

Alberre

Posted by: alberre  | November 29, 2007 4:18 PM

ricky wrote...

Thumbs up to your support of our wonderful Queen, Steve. To all the misguided republicans in our fair country may I just make the following suggestions: President Thatcher? President Kinnock? President Blair (and his lovely unassuming first lady Cherie?)
Nuff said, I think.

* I think your other respondent might be surprised to learn that people who live in republics are just as likely to get their heating disconnected during the winter.

Posted by: ricky  | November 29, 2007 4:29 PM

Big Scott wrote...

I remember covering a Royal trip to Duthie Park in Aberdeen. As her Maj and Philip emerged from their limo, some mad old bat accosts him and starts rabbiting away about how she used to know his dad and he (Phil) had AGED a lot!! I mean, Jeez.. Far from the intolerant, gaff-prone blunderer he's portrayed as, though, he just smiled and was happy to natter away at length with her. And he must get that ALL the time. I have sympathy with the other contributors about the merits of the institution of monarchy in the 21st century, but I do have huge respect for the Queen and Phil. They've done their bit.
REGAN REPLIED: Yeah, I remember when I was reporting on a viist to Clackmannan by the wee Queenie - and her appearance attracted only a tiny crowd, and they were hardly animated. I blame the Buckast wine for the lack of interest.

Posted by: Big Scott  | December 4, 2007 9:58 AM

Lord Vino du Matin wrote...


See Mozza's suing the NME for saying he's "racist" - the very thought!
REGAN REPLIED: Yes, I bet you speak as someone who has danced around to Mozza's fabulous pre-going out record 'National Front Disco'. The irony is lost on the idiots at the NME.

Posted by: Lord Vino du Matin  | December 4, 2007 5:52 PM

Smokehouse wrote...

Hi Ricky I fully accept and understand your comment about people in republics having their heating cut off too. I think you missed my point, though, and that is fame and fortune being handed to you on a plate and then the honour of lifelong adulation and forelock tugging for doing little more than being rich and famous. I didn’t vote them in for that job and no one asked me for my opinion. I also take your point about our first minister. You mention several names and I say well why not? After all we can vote them out when we have had enough of them. This is a democracy and not a dictatorship; we should be consulted about our figurehead and who we want to represent us. On an even more radical note, how about having as our figurehead some one who is self made, has worked hard for his own fame and fortune and is not frightened to speak out about injustice when he sees’ it and donates an inordinate amount to various charities through out the year. Some one who is from a minority background and isn’t even a Christian? Some one who has suffered personal family loss and is equally loved by the ordinary man in the street and the many people he employs? A person who does not suffer fools gladly and calls a spade a spade and tells it like it is. I give you Mohammed Al Fayed.

Posted by: Smokehouse  | December 4, 2007 7:26 PM

not amused at Lizzie wrote...

It does not matter what she does,..she is an interloper..from a German Royal family thats squats illegally on the UK throne.
She, like the rest of her parasitic family are NOT elected. She demands that the police and members of the forces etc pledge allegiance to HER and her family.
Any British soldier who stands on parade and salutes HER a wannabe German Queen/King is just a traitor in my opinion.
Brits should pledge allegianece to the country and family...NOT HER GERMAN FAMILY
My family and neighbours have more right to be on the throne of MY country than this queen.

Posted by: not amused at Lizzie  | December 5, 2007 11:26 PM

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