I was hoping that this would not be a discussion
about a Republic but more about celebrating Her
Majesty's extraordinarily long reign. I was hoping for
some anecdotes and personal experiences over
these years. I think her reign is a remarkable
achievement and it's not the length of service that
impresses. It's her manner of service.

Anyway, Thank You for all your responses thus far.

I actually met the Queen ages ago when I was dressed
in the Lithuanian National Costume and we were invited
to dance for Her Majesty. I was just a young kid - with
very long plaits - and I thought Her Majesty was simply
beautiful. I still think she is.

Dianna Spencer was the best Royal who had a conscience. The rest are elitists who think of us as slaves.

My husband remembers the Queen's visit to
Melbourne a few decades ago. His scout troop
was invited to form a Guard of Honour in
the grounds of Government House in Melbourne
which he attended. To this day he still talks about
that eventful afternoon.

He also remembers a few years earlier - his school
going to the main road from the air-port into Melbourne
and watching and waving as the Queen and Prince Phillip
drove past in a limo. For him, those were days fondly
remembered.

I used to be so very much pro- a Republic,
and perhaps I still am. However, I also
believe that we already are a form of a
republic under the Crown. A "Crowned
Republic." As one website pointed out -
we enjoy all the desirable features of a
republican government and a constitutional
monarchy without any disadvantages of either
system.

It is re-assuring that the monarchy has the
ability to remove a government if it is
abusing its power and that way they're like an
extra safety net for our democracy.

Frankly, I do not want a politician as our head
of state.

A bunch of conservatives with their snouts in the trough were disrespectful to aboriginal people.Some nameless fool thought it funny to open their gob and say "I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owner of this land the Crown,"

This was said in the name of the Queen of England, at a Liberal Party Parliamentary dinner!

I too admire our current Queen, for her dignity, her measured sense of proportion, her quiet diplomacy and her boundless subtlety. While all those around her, try hard to urge her to take a much more radical approach to this issue or that ? Many of which would amount to sheer dynamite, if she were to pursue such a rigorous and stringent course of action ?

She has amazing resilience and durability considering her advanced age. I only wish I had many of her positive attributes, as she sets a good example for us all to follow I reckon.