Queen Elizabeth II to become Britain's oldest monarch.

[terrya]

Hey, I like her. Shoot me.

Congratulations to Her Majesty.

LONDON (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II was set to become Britain's oldest monarch Thursday, overtaking her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, although in discreet royal fashion no events were planned to mark the record.

"This is just another normal working day for the queen," a royal spokeswoman told AFP, adding that the 81-year-old was spending the day in Buckingham Palace dealing with routine paperwork and some Christmas correspondence.

"There's nothing the queen is doing to mark the occasion," she added.

Victoria died in 1901 aged 81 years and 243 days. Elizabeth was to pass Victoria's record at around 5:00 pm Thursday -- taking into account times of birth and death, according to Buckingham Palace.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071220/wl_uk_afp/britainroyals

[FredScuttle]

1. Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl

but she doesn't have a lot to say

[billyskank]

9. She's very devoted to her duty

Her job is to reign but not to rule, and she has always been very careful not to get involved in politics at all. We have no idea at all what she thinks, because her own opinions are not a part of her job. Charles does not seem to understand this - when he succeeds her, things could become interesting.

[FredScuttle]

10. Sorry I wasn't clearer

I was quoting the Beatles' song "Her Majesty"...the OP reminded me of it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majesty_%28song%29

[Westegg]

16. "I wanna tell 'er that I love 'er a lot...

...but I gotta gotta belly full of wine.
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
Someday I'm gonna maker mine, oh yeah,
Someday I'm gonna maker mine."

Best ending to a record EVER. (And it must have seemed somewhat subversive, or at least quite bold, in 1969, yeah?)

Anyway, good on yer, Lizzy.

[edbermac]

2. She's a good Sheila.

And not at all stuck up, Bruce.

[Throckmorton]

44. even if

"Its hot enough to boil a money's bum in here"

[IntravenousDemilo]

3. God Save the Queen n/m

[Kucinich4America]

14. She ain't no human being.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z2M_hpoPwk

[Orsino]

4. And also Britain's *youngest* monarch.

Heh.

[BOSSHOG]

5. I saw her in Scotland in 1967 - 40 freaking years ago and she's still going

better then the energizer bunny. I find her to be quite a dignified presence.

[krispos42]

6. And in related news...

Prince Charles set to become Britian's most fustrated heir to the throne...

:-)

[qwertyMike]

21. They thought she would abdicate

When Prince Charles became Prince of Wale (age 21?)

But I think his ears were too big and he talked like a horse.

Maybe she'll with to Prince Harry?

[MonkeyFunk]

23. No

Prince William is second in line.

[qwertyMike]

26. Prince Charles

technically is, but will become Prince Regent - he married a divorced woman and will be the Head of the Church of England when Liz dies.
Interesting situation

PS: I love Helen Mirren

[MonkeyFunk]

27. No

Prince Charles is first in line. William is 2nd.

[qwertyMike]

28. Isn't Harry #2

King Henry IX

I dunno my Brit history well

OK maybe it's William
William V

[MonkeyFunk]

29. No

Charles is first. William is second. Harry is third. Prince Andrew is fourth.

[qwertyMike]

30. You're Right

But I think if Harry becomes King due to the death of William, there'll be a bit of DNA testing -just saying

[FloridaJudy]

32. You're kidding!

Poor Harry looks exactly like Prince Charles. William looks like he got a bigger chunk of mom's DNA. He's luckier in more ways than one.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. really?

I think Harry looks nothing like his father. William is getting the Windsor male look as he gets older - too bad for him. But Harry is very handsome, and he DOES look a lot like Hewitt.

[qwertyMike]

45. James Hewitt

He and Di had an affair: Don't blame her





you be da judge

[Darth_Kitten]

39. Henry IX would have been, or was, James II's grandson.........

but James II son and grandsons, etc were denied the throne as they were catholics.
The Act of Settlement of 1701 meant that about 40(?) individuals with WAY more rights to the throne than Liz's ancestors.
Now, with those 40 having descendents,etc, etc, means that Liz and family have really a very weak claim to be England's rightful Royal Family.

And they know that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. Depends on your view of 'right', of course

William I gained a 'right' to the throne of England by a successful invasion in 1066. The Act of Settlement reflected the general wish of the parliament of England (with Scotland's Parliament pretty much told to shut up and toe the line) to get rid of James II for good - which was reflected by the more or less bloodless invasion William III managed. If you'd rather an earlier bloody invasion takes precedence over a later, generally welcomed one, then you'd be right.

[Darth_Kitten]

42. General "will" of Parliament was to be self-centred bigots........

James II was exiled for the noblest reasons: he wanted religious toleration for ALL his subjects.......and the moneyed few who "invited" William of Orange over to assume the throne knew that. Apparently, Parliament in 1688 was WAY more divided than the Whiggish view on history suggests.
(one can't rely on the "Whig" view of history, they made sure propaganda showed them to always be in the "right". It's amazing how much gossip spread by a few anti-catholic 17th century writers somehow becomes history)

For such a "bloodless" revolution, many people's lives were severely affected. :( I'm sure the British people didn't "welcome" a fleet that was apparently larger than the Spanish Armada. :)

But in my opinion anyways, there has to be justification for the "Bloodless" revolution, the truth puts the Brits in an embarrassing light. The ignorance, cruelty and crass opportunism of certain participants in this "revolution" was amazing.

[CottonBear]

7. See these wonderful YouTube videos of the Queen off work and at work:

The Queen off duty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe1PsVGUSaw&mode=related&search=

The Queen Reflects on her Life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh1-9ww_HmM
(At 6:25 she irons her own jacket! Who would have imagined!)


Sh's really funny and much more natural and relaxed than I had imagined!

Of course, she loves her dogs and horses! I love it when she wins 16 pounds at the track!

[MonkeyFunk]

12. That first one is great!

She drives a stick!

[CottonBear]

17. I know! She still rides her horses too! She seems like a nice person

who has had to undertake a very difficult lifetime job.

[skygazer]

18. Those are great

She's got a wonderful laugh and smile - she's usually quite reserved in still photos. I've always admired her - she's got a helluva seat on a horse. :)

[YankeyMCC]

8. A "normal working day"

Now that makes me wonder what a working day for a monarch these days is like. ;)

[MonkeyFunk]

11. she actually works very hard

I saw a documentary about her years ago. Just about every minute of every day is scheduled a year in advance.

She's very devoted to her duties. I don't want to like her, but I can't help having a great deal of respect for her. Despite the perks, it's a very difficult life.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. two beautiful portraits by Annie Leibowitz:

[skygazer]

19. I like the first one

She looks rather like George Washington in the second. :wow:

[terrya]

22. Those are beautiful pics, MonkeyFunk

Thank you for posting them.

[redqueen]

15. But... she's a werewolf!

Sorry...

[nomorenomore08]

20. "I saw Lon Chaney walkin' with the queen..."

nt

[redqueen]

24. I was thinking of Dr. Who...

I didn't want to like Tennant... but I couldn't help it.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

25. Yeah the episode with Queen Victoria ...

kind of makes you think huh .

[Sannum]

31. I adore her...

From what I have heard from friends in the UK, who either have connections to her staff or to people who have met her, she is an extremely kind woman.

And she is known to loathe Bush, so that is another feather in her cap!

[MonkeyFunk]

34. Yeah

it's hard not to like her. She's the last of a dying breed.

[JCMach1]

37. My grandmother who died last year could have been her body double...

I find it a little strange to see pictures of her...

[Catsbrains]

35. Does she believe she was anointed by God? nt

[billyskank]

36. I doubt it.

I expect she has a very firm grasp of the principle of heredity.

[muriel_volestrangler]

41. She does tie religion up with it a bit, I think

The coronation is a religious service, and I think that one reason she has said (in private) she'll never abdicate is because it was a religious oath she took to be queen, and thus she thinks she can't just walk away from it.

[Darth_Kitten]

38. She's the de facto monarch, not the de jure.

There are probably 100's of individuals with more rights to the throne than she and her young.

[UTUSN]

43. Isn't Alfred the Great older?!1 n/t

[qwertyMike]

46. She is awesome

Imagine the work schedule!

I'm 62 and more or less burnt out.

Great Woman