Elizabeth II And George II
(CBS) Now that Queen Elizabeth has concluded her visit to the United States, it’s obvious that Americans have a huge affection for the British monarchy. We also have conflicted feelings about it. We view England’s monarchy as antiquated, shockingly costly, silly, or, at best, quaint. We know that Queen Elizabeth doesn’t really “rule” Britain, and many see her as just a figurehead. But thousands of Americans lined up just to get a glimpse of the Queen wherever she went. On TV, there were more shots of her at the Kentucky Derby than of the horses. And President and Mrs. Bush threw a white-tie-and-tails state dinner for her. If she’s just an irrelevant figurehead, why all the fuss?
Americans are fascinated by the British monarchy. Queen Elizabeth has a higher approval rating among Americans than President Bush. Some Americans know the British order of succession better than they know our own. They can tell you the names of the six wives of Henry VIII, but can’t name our last six presidents. Magazines chronicle every move by the queen’s children and grandchildren. And don’t say this is just because England is our closest ally. How many of you care about Prime Minister Tony Blair’s personal life?
Source: www.cbsnews.com
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