# Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years as monarch **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896 "2012-02-05T21:56:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/81 "2012-02-12T03:13:15Z")
King George IV banned his own wife from his coronation. She threw a massive tantrum and tried to sneak into the abbey anyways. Then she died. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/82 "2012-02-12T03:41:20Z")
I’ve always liked and respected QE2 as the monarch of my mother’s motherland, but I can’t deny that the thought of [young Liz](http://wdfyfe.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/queen1.jpg) crying, _“Tally Ho”_ while striking my bare [bum](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bum)(definition #2…but, # 3 isn’t totally out of the question) hard with her riding crop hasn’t featured prominently in my dreams over the years…talk about a hot head of state! ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/83 "2012-02-12T12:05:38Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > > [@ianzin](#): > > > > … she doesn’t even do her job well. > > If you’re still reading this […] Very difficult to get a WiFi signal when you’re locked in the Tower of London. The walls are so thick. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/84 "2012-02-12T17:39:34Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > I’ve always liked and respected QE2 as the monarch of my mother’s motherland, but I can’t deny that the thought of [young Liz](http://wdfyfe.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/queen1.jpg) crying, _“Tally Ho”_ while striking my bare [bum](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bum)(definition #2…but, # 3 isn’t totally out of the question) hard with her riding crop hasn’t featured prominently in my dreams over the years…talk about a hot head of state! I can’t say I’ve had erotic dreams about the young Queen, but she _was_ attractive: [![](https://i.huffpost.com/gen/489660/thumbs/a-YOUNG-QUEEN-640x468.jpg) ](https://i.huffpost.com/gen/489660/thumbs/a-YOUNG-QUEEN-640x468.jpg) [http://www.vanityfair.com/society/2012/01/queen-elizabeth-201201/\_jcr\_content/par/cn\_contentwell/par-main/cn\_pagination\_contai/cn\_image.size.queen-elizabeth.jpg](http://www.vanityfair.com/society/2012/01/queen-elizabeth-201201/_jcr_content/par/cn_contentwell/par-main/cn_pagination_contai/cn_image.size.queen-elizabeth.jpg) [http://www.worldphoto.org/\_assets/images/cache/news/imagemain/Cecil-Beaton,-Queen-Elizabeth-II-in-Coronation-Robes,-June-1953-(c)-VA-images-02(1).jpg](http://www.worldphoto.org/_assets/images/cache/news/imagemain/Cecil-Beaton,-Queen-Elizabeth-II-in-Coronation-Robes,-June-1953-(c)-VA-images-02(1).jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/85 "2012-02-12T20:41:01Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > There is truth in what you say, although it was already treated as a political issue in the original wave of ‘demonarchifying’ the Canadian State, and there were some bizarre name-changes. > > Like ‘Land Force Command’ and the like? > > Weird. I don’t know about this as it was probably before my time (and “Land Force Command” doesn’t sound like such a strange name to me), but what I dislike is that these changes by the current government seem to be designed to raise Canadians against each other. You can’t anymore just be against the concept of monarchy in theory, but not care very much about the issue (which is my case). The government insists that this country loves the Queen (and the Cambridges, for some reason), and if you disagree with this, you’re against this country. The money that’s being given to organizations that wish to celebrate the Queen’s jubilee is an incitation to make it an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/86 "2012-02-12T22:05:52Z")
As for the Queen being attractive when she was younger, I’d say she was a lot like Diana. Not classically beautiful, but she had an aura about her, and a beautiful smile. I have a book, The Queen’s Jewels, about her personal collection, and there’s a picture of her in there wearing a sky blue ball gown, with a necklace of huge sapphires around her throat and smiling, and she looks absolutely stunning. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/87 "2012-06-03T19:40:56Z")
she does have a beautiful smile. and it was on show today for hours during the “take a boat ride” down the thames today. she is an inspiration at 80 something, standing, waving, and enjoying her boat ride. that bell boat was quite something, and the boat with the royal philharmonic was very nifty. rule britannia! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/88 "2012-06-03T20:45:23Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > The Queen has never had to win an election nor can we get rid of her. One slow march out of the tower, up 13 steps, a kneeling by a chopping block and one short sharp shock. No more queen. France managed it fairly successfully, though they used a tumbril and a guillotine. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/89 "2012-06-03T20:47:10Z")
How many US presidents has the Queen met? I remember one of them - Clinton? - saying that meeting her was intimidating because in the role of President you don’t meet many people who are able to directly compare you to a bunch of your predecessors. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/90 "2012-06-03T20:48:10Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > One slow march out of the tower, up 13 steps, a kneeling by a chopping block and one short sharp shock. No more queen. France managed it fairly successfully, though they used a tumbril and a guillotine. Are you really suggesting murdering the Queen? Charming. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/91 "2012-06-03T20:52:23Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If you’re still reading this, I asked above, and I repeat, why do you believe that she has not done a good job as Head of State? He doesn’t know. He’s just blurting out nasty nonsense. His descriptions of what he thinks her job entails makes that clear, along with his incorrect calculations on the balance of finances. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/92 "2012-06-03T21:39:22Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Are you sure it’s a net loss though? I thought the receipts from royal-oriented tourism more than made up for the cost of the actual royals… I’ve never been very convinced by this argument. I doubt there would be much less tourists in London without the royals. I mean, quite a lot of tourists flock at the royal palace in Versailles, and we don’t have any king to show them. Plus we get to show said tourists the place were we put royals waiting for a beheading too 😉 (not worth the visit, BTW) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/93 "2012-06-03T21:47:26Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Are you really suggesting murdering the Queen? Charming. No, it sounds like he’s suggesting a judicial execution. like King Charles, or King Louis in France. Executions are not murder. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/94 "2012-06-03T21:59:34Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > There are plenty of republics where the Head of State has numerous residences on taxpayer’s money – in fact many which outdo the British monarchy in terms of residences. France and America come to mind. The French president has exactly two residences used as such : the Elysee Palace, seat of the presidency in Paris (and which isn’t really impressive by palace’s standarts), and the Fort de Bregançon, a small island on the mediteranean coast with a 18th century fort often used as a vacation residence. Two others, a mansion in Paris and a castle not long away from it are theorically official residences but only ever used respectively to house foreign guests and to hold international summits. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/95 "2012-06-03T22:14:23Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > What’s wrong with the idea that if someone wants to be paid a lot of money they should have to do some work to earn it? > . Well…I’d disagree with that. Maybe they aren’t of the upmost importance, but it seems to me that she has quite a lot of official duties. Especially for a woman of her age. Don’t know about you, but there’s no way I’d want to be UK’s king and have to spend most of my time attending boring events, shacking hands, reading someone else’s speech, and having every single head move I make scrutinized in all papers. I read somewhere recently about the new husband of the heiress to the throne of one of the Scandinavian kingdoms (can’t remember which one). Despite them being rather low key by comparison with British monarchs, the poor guy had to endure two years of teaching about proper etiquette and such. Again might not be really important, but it seems it’s part of the job definition, and I wouldn’t want to have to go through that, either. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/96 "2012-06-03T22:20:29Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > You’re right – presidents generally don’t inherit. But as the job is largely ceremonial, why bother electing it? Instead, people in general prefer having the position inherited to prevent the squalid competition and appeal to the lowest common denominator that election entails. > . No such things happens, typically, in parliamentary republics where the President’s job is essentially ceremonial. How much squalid competition has there been for the presidency of the aforementioned Germany and Italy, for instance? ---
**Author:** ![lizlizliz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/db5fbb/32.png) [@lizlizliz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizlizliz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/97 "2012-06-03T22:43:06Z")
[Big Ben might be renamed “The Elizabeth Tower”](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18305664) in honor of her Diamond Jubilee. I didn’t realize “Big Ben” was the name of the bell, not the actual tower itself. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/98 "2012-06-03T23:39:37Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > How many US presidents has the Queen met? > > I remember one of them - Clinton? - saying that meeting her was intimidating because in the role of President you don’t meet many people who are able to directly compare you to a bunch of your predecessors. 11, she did not meet lbj. pres obama is the first president to be born during her reign, a year younger than her andrew, and a few years older than her edward. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/99 "2012-06-04T00:05:14Z")
Oh sure, cut her head off. But don’t come crying to me when you catch scrofula. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/100 "2012-06-04T01:46:19Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > How many US presidents has the Queen met? > > I remember one of them - Clinton? - saying that meeting her was intimidating because in the role of President you don’t meet many people who are able to directly compare you to a bunch of your predecessors. Here’s a nice slideshow. As **rocking chair** wrote, she didn’t meet LBJ in person. She’s met all others who’ve served since Truman, and met Hoover after he’d left office. > **[All the queen's presidents - CNN.com](https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2012/05/specials/queen.presidents/index.html?hpt=hp_c2)** > > Since she came to the throne in 1952, 10 U.S. presidents have been elected and the queen has met all of them, except Lyndon B. Johnson who took over after John F Kennedy in 1963. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896.md?page=6)