Although our Queen is considered to be a head of the supreme legislative power, the supreme commander of our Armed Forces and the head of the church and the judiciary, there is no secret for anyone in this country that in reality our government operates for the account (but not for the benefit, as it turns out) of the Queen. Yes, constitutionally the Queen rules the UK. She has the right to declare war, to convene and dissolve British parliament, to approve laws and to have mercy on criminals. In practice our ministers make laws and write royal speeches. But it has been not enough for Mr. Brown and his team.
They decided to go farther. Based on the official data that now monarchy costs the treasury 47 million pounds ($57 million) a year (that’s not counting the Guard), they have dared to work out a draft law on deep cuts in royal subsidization and drastic reduction of present royal charters! Soon this frantic proposal should be appeared in our Parliament for consideration. But the mysteries of great royal finances are symptomatic of the monarchy’s lack of openness and accountability. Yes, the Queen and the Royal Family cost our taxpayers over 40 million pounds, but it is equivalent to 62p per person in this country! So Royal Family is lower for us in cost than a litre of milk!
Thus, the vagary of our Republicans to inspire the next campaign against the Queen is, in fact, their attempt to improve own negative-going image in the public eyes now. But it is clear that their final goal is monarchy’s annulment, deprivation of Queen’s rank as Anglican Church’s leader. Well, only UK worst enemies can wish us such evil! And there is no surprise that one of the authors of this draft was Alistair Darling, who should answer for heavy consequences of recent financial crisis in this country and who, I hear, has recently entered Islam…