Mrs. Obama Hugs Queen of England - question for UK posters

[Stark]

The Queen does. Because she chooses to, probably a result of the public relations disaster that came out of making the taxpayer foot the bill for the fire damage to Windsor Castle.
Of course, what she pays is kept secret.

And I dispute that tourism would be adversely affected if the royal family were to vanish tomorrow; the history and buildings would still be there. Maybe they could use the revenue to pay those bee-hive helmeted guys to continue to ponce around all day for the amusement of foreignerrs.

So your response to 'they generate money' and 'they pay tax' is 'wah wah wah royals = bad'? Americans vote for abstinence only; the UK votes to throw money at old people instead. So... what? Amusingly, once Elizabeth II dies and the next generation takes over, I wouldn't be surprised if public opinion changes dramatically. As it is, people my parents age grew up with a single Queen who is distant enough to not be associated with negative events but charitable and inoffensive enough to be fondly remembered even in long independent colonies.

[Darth Onasi]

You may well be right, however as far as I know a very clear majority of Britons wish to retain the monarchy and the monarchy has long said that its continued function is subject to the democratically expressed will of the public

Unfortunately there are far too many of my countrymen who cling onto old delusions of empire and britannia rules the waves, and the monarchy is a symbol of that.
I doubt however that their continued presence would ever be affected by a referendum. I certainly have not ever been asked to vote on such.

Those 'guys' you so disparagingly refer to are trained soldiers, some of whom are likely to have served in combat, and their role is as proper guards to the Sovereign; those rifles are real and loaded, as are those bayonets. Moreover I have also seen pictures of some of those guardsmen, guarding the palaces etc ,dressed in camouflage behind sandbagged emplacements with machineguns after a threat from the IRA, their presence is very real and not a mere amusement for 'foreigners'.

I realise that. But guards to the sovereign? From what? Let's assume there's an invasion or terrorist attack, are they really going to go into combat dressed like that? Even if they ditch the stupid hats, they're a bunch of bright red targets. They're going to have to go and get real equipment, and in that case they might as well be stationed at a real army base.

[Stuart Mackey]

You may well be right, however as far as I know a very clear majority of Britons wish to retain the monarchy and the monarchy has long said that its continued function is subject to the democratically expressed will of the public

Unfortunately there are far too many of my countrymen who cling onto old delusions of empire and britannia rules the waves, and the monarchy is a symbol of that.
I doubt however that their continued presence would ever be affected by a referendum. I certainly have not ever been asked to vote on such.

If there was a referendum on the continuation of the monarchy that came out against its retention then that would be it for the institution (subject to NZ's approval btw, but that would be a formality), such is the nature of democracy and parliamentary sovereignty.

I realise that. But guards to the sovereign? From what?

Recently it has been terrorist attack in the form of the IRA, it was even in the papers.

Let's assume there's an invasion or terrorist attack, are they really going to go into combat dressed like that?

Did you read what I wrote above? they have, when occasion demanded it, been dressed in their combats. And they will wear what they have on, what counts is the weapon.

Even if they ditch the stupid hats, they're a bunch of bright red targets.

So what? ever see a member of the taliban with any of the fancy western cammo gear? in a built up area like around B Palace or the Tower it will hardly matter, what will count, I imagine, is cover and there is plenty of that.

They're going to have to go and get real equipment,

Right, a loaded SA80A2 rifle is not real equipment?

and in that case they might as well be stationed at a real army base.

Idiot, if you are on station you stay there until help comes to you, you don't leave that's called cowardice in the face of the enemy.

[Ziggy Stardust]

There is a lot more to the Queen's Guard than just "a bunch of bright red targets" with silly hats. Hell, even Wikipedia will tell you that.

[Jade Falcon]

Those 'guys' you so disparagingly refer to are trained soldiers, some of whom are likely to have served in combat, and their role is as proper guards to the Sovereign; those rifles are real and loaded, as are those bayonets. Moreover I have also seen pictures of some of those guardsmen, guarding the palaces etc ,dressed in camouflage behind sandbagged emplacements with machineguns after a threat from the IRA, their presence is very real and not a mere amusement for 'foreigners'.

Also, they are not a permanent unit that spends all their time at the Palace and other Royal Residences, that particular duty is rotated among a number of frontline units. And as you mention, the rifles they have are real and loaded, they're not exactly the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.

[Falkenhayn]

Also, they are not a permanent unit that spends all their time at the Palace and other Royal Residences, that particular duty is rotated among a number of frontline units. And as you mention, the rifles they have are real and loaded, they're not exactly the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.

To be fair, all Swiss Guardsmen have completed their conscript training in Switzerland, and receive additional instruction in bodyguard specific tactics during their service. The vast majority of the Guard is not on display either, as the Pope has 134 bodyguards at latest count, and they only trot out the breastplates and halberds for high occaisions. Otherwise, they wear something for more conventional looking in navy blue with a black beret. Because the recruits are trained Swiss soldiers, the Vatican uses the same weapons as the Swiss Army, so Beretta automatics, MP series SMGs and SIG ARs.

[Posner]

Also, they are not a permanent unit that spends all their time at the Palace and other Royal Residences, that particular duty is rotated among a number of frontline units. And as you mention, the rifles they have are real and loaded, they're not exactly the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.

To be fair, all Swiss Guardsmen have completed their conscript training in Switzerland, and receive additional instruction in bodyguard specific tactics during their service. The vast majority of the Guard is not on display either, as the Pope has 134 bodyguards at latest count, and they only trot out the breastplates and halberds for high occaisions. Otherwise, they wear something for more conventional looking in navy blue with a black beret. Because the recruits are trained Swiss soldiers, the Vatican uses the same weapons as the Swiss Army, so Beretta automatics, MP series SMGs and SIG ARs.

I think someone needs to make a Half Life mod based off of this. In a fashion show between the Swiss Guards and the Queen's Guards, there is a vestment malfunction and the Pope inadvertently exposes his scrotum to the Queen. The Queen's Guard rushes to defend the Queens Honor while the Swiss Guard is angry that she won't lighten up about the whole thing. A gun battle ensues within St. Peter's Chapel.

[General Zod]

I think someone needs to make a Half Life mod based off of this. In a fashion show between the Swiss Guards and the Queen's Guards, there is a vestment malfunction and the Pope inadvertently exposes his scrotum to the Queen. The Queen's Guard rushes to defend the Queens Honor while the Swiss Guard is angry that she won't lighten up about the whole thing. A gun battle ensues within St. Peter's Chapel.

Can't you just take L4D and change the bitmaps?