Some thoughts on the Queen

I met her once. As in, I held a door open when she opened a new training centre in 1996. I was struck by how small both her and Prince Phillip were.

I'm not a royalist, never was, never will be. The whole monarch as head of state seems terribly anachronistic, in the 21st century, but compared the lunacy of what the role and function of the House of Lords is, it doesn't seem too significant.

Compared to the office of President in say the US, Queen Elizabeth has been a model of decorum, stability and consistency. She has been a constant presence, and seemed a benevolent, if strangely remote figure, and she did support a great many charities and worthy causes.

There will be no more breaches of the Queen's Peace, QC's at Crown Court, or 'half hours for the Queen'.

I'd say 'Thank you for your service, and rest in peace, Ma'am'. Whatever your views on the royalty are, she was nonetheless, someone's daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and she did work for many years in the service of her country and people.