UK Queen Mother Too Ill to Consume Food

Ananova News Wire and the London Daily Sun Newspaper ^ | February 14, 2002 GMT | What the Papers Say Column

[codebreaker]

Ananova:

What Tomorrow's Papers Say

The London Daily Sun

QUEEN MUM TO ILL TO EAT

The Queen Mother is now so ill she is unable to eat.

Story filed 1:18 Thursday, February 14, 2002 Greenwich Mean Time

[Arkle]

It costs every UK taxpayer about 14 pence a year to "keep" the Royal Family. The revenue received by the UK government from the Crown Estates far outweighs the expense incurred by the taxpayer. You may not like monarchy, but the "sponging off the taxpayer" argument is not a real one. If the family were not in the position of the monarchy, they would still be exceptionally wealthy, without all the responsibility. Unless you have a problem with inherited wealth?

[southern rock]

I'd turn around and ask you how much you enjoy paying for the lifestyle that your Senators, Representatives and President and their attendant bureaucrats get.

I don't. That is what this website is all about.!!!! But at least the supposedly work for the people they represent, if only IN THEORY!

[MadIvan]

Then why do they do it? Why don't they just quit? put an end to it all? Why doesn't Harry just say "screw this", and get a factory job?

Some actually do - Edward tried, with patchy success, to get into producing television programmes. He is still apparently attempting it. The Civil List has been cut down substantially. But the main reason why we maintain the monarchy is tradition. How would you feel if someone said, "George Washington is so passe and out of date, like dude, you need to put Kurt Cobain on the 1 dollar bill." You'd laugh that person out of the universe.

Similarly, the monarchy is a tradition that survives at our pleasure. It is no more extravagant than the perks your politicians enjoy. Though I dare say Her Majesty's perks are under far greater scrutiny than all the Carribean junkets your politicians get, tax free.

One final note, I say that the monarchy is a tradition that does survive at our pleasure. We have dumped monarchs when the cause was sufficient - Charles I, James II, for example. The ultimate arbiters are our representative institutions.

Ivan

[KirklandJunction]

Ivan:
Don't mean to step on your toes, you're capable of taking care of yourself!
But dammit, with a bit of a hangover from toasting Waylon Jennings last night, I'm in no mood to tolerate some "southern rock" child taking cheap shots at a class lady.

kj

[MadIvan]

You have zero perception about how fragile the monarchy really is in Britain. The Royals are constantly angling to justify their existence and relevance to our society. Charles for example does good work through the Prince's Trust (I approve of that charity actually as his charity helps people to start up their own BUSINESSES). Sometimes the Royals can even show guts that our politicians dare not show - for example, Charles again refused to meet with that Red butcher Jiang Xemin. This was a ceremonial slap in the face, but a slap in the face nonetheless, one that Xemin is unlikely to face in America I dare say.

Ivan

[Arkle]

But at least they supposedly work for the people they represent, if only IN THEORY!

Here is a list of the Queen's engagements this summer. Read it through before you say the Queen does no work for the people of the UK.

[southern rock]

Sheesh! I never realized there were so many old ladies on FR. What does conservatism mean to you people?

To hell with liberty, rights, freedom and all the things that supposedly matter to conservative Americans! I was mistaken. True conservatism now apparantly really means "class", "breeding", and "proper" manners. Yes, I am becoming nostalgic for royalty now. Lets establish a King in the U.S. Thank You!

[LibertarianLiz]

I am assuming you are young and have no historical perspective of WWII.

The then Queen Elizabeth was an example to all the world of courage in the face of adversity. I remember reading that Hitler feared her because she was such an inspiration to her people. When the blitz was going on in London, many advisors wanted her and the children (Elizabeth and Margaret) to leave London and go somewhere safer. Her response was that the children would not be leaving without her; she would not be leaving without the King, and the King was not leaving.

She was out with the people every morning after they were bombed giving moral support. The people of England love her for good reason; and, although she is not "our" Queen, her example of courage should not be dismissed lightly.

[WileyC]

In answer to those who ask 'What's the fuss?'

She's a profoundly influential figure that has been a staunch supporter of the US in the War on Terrorism. She's nearly a lone voice against the liberal English press in that she truly understands that this war really is about civilization versus the death throes of a hideously outdated and repressive culture. She's seen what totalitarianism can do first hand when the Nazi's bombed her country and her heartfelt support when we were bombed was magnificent.

We should grieve for her illness and, someday, mourn her passing as a defender of freedom. A far better one (despite being a monarchist!) than the so-called 'democrats' that have abandoned true idealism for liberal dogma.

[LibertarianLiz]

A little prayer for strength for the Queen Mum. Princess Margaret's death must have been such a big loss for her.

I think a little prayer for the current Queen Elizabeth might also be nice. It is looking as if she may be losing both her sister and mother in the same month.

[Arkle]

Yes, I am becoming nostalgic for royalty now. Lets establish a King in the U.S.

You've already got one:

[KirklandJunction]

"breeding?"
"royalty?"
Wake up and take a look around you. The House of Bush has been throned for two generations!

Nice chatting with you Ivan, have a good day or evening or whatever. More coffee for me and back to work.
Best wishes to Queen Mum.

[soozla]

“She is physically weak, but her spirit is very strong.”

This woman has lived through more than most do in TWO lifetimes. Don't count her out! She reminds me of my 98 year old grandmother, who survived the loss of 2 husbands and her only child, my father, (who was the light of her life.) After recent surgery, she is looking for a good looking man to take her dancing.....by golly, she just might find him! She wakes up every day, happy to be alive and determined to see the day through to the end.

Every day I pray that my heart will grow as big as hers (& hopefully, I've inherited those longevity genes).

No, don't count the Queen Mum out...may God bless her!

[spectre]

"Bet the ranch she'll be there tomorrow.."

I'll bet mine she'll be there too. Neither of us will lose. :~)

sw

[MadIvan]

You got caught denouncing who, at the very least, is nice old lady. What the hell should we do with you, give you the bloody Victoria Cross? There is nothing in conservatism that you are disrespectful of the achievement of others.

Si tacuisses, philosiphus manuisses - if you'd shut up, you'd have been thought to be clever.

Ivan

[varon]

This woman is neither my queen nor my mother.

And neither is she mine.
However, she does represent in my mind and many millions others a noble spirit. A beacon of light, if you will, during a dark time in world history when England and civilization was the target of onslaught by a crazed maniac and his mighty military machine. She showed strength and perseverance at personal risk to rally a nation to face an enemy bent on their destruction.
If you are not of age to have witnessed it or not interested in world history to have read about it, then perhaps you are forming an opinion on limited knowledge and perhaps should be less critical of those who know and who care

[texasbluebell]

She embodies a fighting spirit of a more heroic age, which is why we love her. I don't believe that fighting spirit will fail her now.

The Queen Mother and George VI showed their strength and in doing so gave strength to the British people during those very dark days of the Blitz. She hasn't lost her strength in her later years. She won't miss her daughter's funeral, not if it kills her to be there. Bless her!

[texasbluebell]

And what a lovely young child she once was!

[JudyB1938]

What a sweet picture. Thank you for posting it.