I think this year's Christmas message was her best ever.

I'm not old enough to know if it was her best ever, but it was certainly a good one.

Yes, well done to whoever wrote it, and Queenie did the difficult task of reading from the autocue and showing no emotion.

I'm a Royal family fan even if intellectually I think a Republic is probably fairer.

Britain would be so dull without them and I don't care what people say, I know they are the greatest tourism asset who bring in more than they cost.

The Queen's dedication to duty is admirable.. I couldn't do it.

I don't envy any of them.

I'm happy Australia rejected the Republic vote..who wants a boring old president as head of state?

robbiex wrote:
Yes, well done to whoever wrote it, and Queenie did the difficult task of reading from the autocue and showing no emotion.

I have seen the Queen Speech on TV.

Have I missed something ?

I still have guests here, and pubs and resturants open. I will be booking a few tables shortly.

Without a TV you will find out that life is simpler, easier, enjoyable and no Covid doom and gloom.

Green Man wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Yes, well done to whoever wrote it, and Queenie did the difficult task of reading from the autocue and showing no emotion.

I have seen the Queen Speech on TV.

Have I missed something ?

I still have guests here, and pubs and resturants open. I will be booking a few tables shortly.

Without a TV you will find out that life is simpler, easier, enjoyable and no Covid doom and gloom.

Well, Greenman, you seem to have the same amount of covid doom, gloom, bewilderment and fury as the rest of us, even without the tv.

The Queen writes her own speech, apparently, but obviously the aides will look at it too.

Robbie, what sort of emotion did you expect her to show? Was she supposed to sit there crying into a bottle of gin?

I found it quite moving.

Perhaps you need to reach ripe old age (late 70s) to appreciate losing a loved one from most of your life.

Honey wrote:
Green Man wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Yes, well done to whoever wrote it, and Queenie did the difficult task of reading from the autocue and showing no emotion.

I have seen the Queen Speech on TV.

Have I missed something ?

I still have guests here, and pubs and resturants open. I will be booking a few tables shortly.

Without a TV you will find out that life is simpler, easier, enjoyable and no Covid doom and gloom.

Well, Greenman, you seem to have the same amount of covid doom, gloom, bewilderment and fury as the rest of us, even without the tv.

The Queen writes her own speech, apparently, but obviously the aides will look at it too.

Robbie, what sort of emotion did you expect her to show? Was she supposed to sit there crying into a bottle of gin?

I found it quite moving.

The speech was nice enough and I sympathise with anyone who has lost a loved one, particularly one that they have been with for decades. I don't expect her to be crying with a bottle of gin, you exaggerate for effect, but maybe a lump in the throat or a slight welling up, rather than being delivered like it was the shipping forecast. It was a pleasant enough speech with a good message, but no great lines that will stay in the memory. It has been 9 months since Prince Phillip has left us, so the Queen has had time to adapt, and at least she will have a good support network around her, in the form of family, staff, and friends. If we must have a monarch, then she is probably better than most.

Honey wrote:
Green Man wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Yes, well done to whoever wrote it, and Queenie did the difficult task of reading from the autocue and showing no emotion.

I have seen the Queen Speech on TV.

Have I missed something ?

I still have guests here, and pubs and resturants open. I will be booking a few tables shortly.

Without a TV you will find out that life is simpler, easier, enjoyable and no Covid doom and gloom.

Well, Greenman, you seem to have the same amount of covid doom, gloom, bewilderment and fury as the rest of us, even without the tv.

The Queen writes her own speech, apparently, but obviously the aides will look at it too.

Robbie, what sort of emotion did you expect her to show? Was she supposed to sit there crying into a bottle of gin?

I found it quite moving.

I am more worried about Great Reset than Covid.

Had a great lunch with my guests and family today; I have no idea when they are leaving and personally I don't care. I do have work again in a few days however I can take my daughters to work with me. In the supermarket today, I saw hardly anyone wearing a mask.

Tubs' brothers are bringing over a karaoke machine shortly. My partner does a brillant Yoko Ono.

robbiex wrote:
Honey wrote:
Green Man wrote:
robbiex wrote:
Yes, well done to whoever wrote it, and Queenie did the difficult task of reading from the autocue and showing no emotion.

I have seen the Queen Speech on TV.

Have I missed something ?

I still have guests here, and pubs and resturants open. I will be booking a few tables shortly.

Without a TV you will find out that life is simpler, easier, enjoyable and no Covid doom and gloom.

Well, Greenman, you seem to have the same amount of covid doom, gloom, bewilderment and fury as the rest of us, even without the tv.

The Queen writes her own speech, apparently, but obviously the aides will look at it too.

Robbie, what sort of emotion did you expect her to show? Was she supposed to sit there crying into a bottle of gin?

I found it quite moving.

The speech was nice enough and I sympathise with anyone who has lost a loved one, particularly one that they have been with for decades. I don't expect her to be crying with a bottle of gin, you exaggerate for effect, but maybe a lump in the throat or a slight welling up, rather than being delivered like it was the shipping forecast. It was a pleasant enough speech with a good message, but no great lines that will stay in the memory. It has been 9 months since Prince Phillip has left us, so the Queen has had time to adapt, and at least she will have a good support network around her, in the form of family, staff, and friends. If we must have a monarch, then she is probably better than most.

Oh God Robbie please no outward show of emotions from The Queen. We have enough of that sort of thing EVERYWHERE else. What has happened to understatement and people filling the emotions in themselves with what used to be called imagination & empathy?

You are correct about the speech writers though; whatever the Palace may say.

Even Charles - who is considerably more erudite than his parents or children - uses them all the time. I used to drink in the same pub as one of his (Charles) speech writers (about 10 years ago that is). We had a shared interest in cryptic crosswords.

Very bright guy; best I have ever seen at them, and I wasn't half bad myself. He would have seen through Gov manipulation of language on Covid in a second flat. Because he was brilliant at it himself.