[paul cotter (OP)]

I think it would have been the end of me, if I had to perform such an odious task. As a side issue I am not in favour of monarchies and view them as anachronistic . However if a country wishes to have such a system, then that is none of my business and i'm fine with that. When the royal visit to Ireland was proposed I thought it was a crazy risky escapade given the history of political violence on this island. However it went well and the queen's respectful and dignified words and deeds endeared her to the irish people( excluding the usual loonies ). As such I offer my belated condolences to all my british royalist neighbours.

[alancalverd]

Two words to strike terror into the heart of any republican: President Truss (other candidates are available).

Rather than have to choose between corrupt politicians,  incompetent politicians, or failed businessmen  to represent the country, civilised nations have a system of hereditary monarchy where one individual knows for certain and from birth that his/her privacy will be sacrificed on the altar of national unity. The compensation is generous, there is no compulsion to accept the job, and very few resign. It's no big deal if they resign or die in office because the deputies are already lined up and probably already have a suitable uniform and evening dress in which to go to work immediately.

Sadly, the finger on the red button is still that of a politician but he/she has no more constitutional authority than Parliament allows, and like it or not, the military have sworn allegiance to the monarch, not whatever scum the conservative party undead have elected to office, so World War III will not be started simply because Truss has bankrupted the nation, precipitated a national strike,  and needs a populist smokescreen.

Having shaken hands with Herr Fuhrer Trumpf and Blow Job, you'd think the Queen would be pretty immune to infection, but could you live with the shame of having to represent a country run by Truss's government ?