Celtic Moment

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The haunting story of the beautiful—and tragic—Mary, Queen of Scots, as only legendary novelist Jean Plaidy could write it

Mary Stuart became Queen of Scotland at the tender age of six days old. Her French-born mother, the Queen Regent, knew immediately that the infant queen would be a vulnerable pawn in the power struggle between Scotland’s clans and nobles. So Mary was sent away from the land of her birth and raised in the sophisticated and gli… More >>

Royal Road to Fotheringhay: The Story of Mary, Queen of Scots

A video of the Scottish country most of the photo’s are taken in North West of Scotland. Accompanied by the music Highland Cathedral by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. from the Spirit Of The Glen Album. Available @ iTunes. ( Highland Cathedral was composed by Uli Roever and Michael Korb of Germany ) I hope you enjoy viewing.

The BBC recording of the opening parade of massed pipe and drums at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Commentary by Bill Paterson.

The opening parade of massed pipe bands with 250 pipers and drummers at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They comprise the Pipes & Drums of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, 1st & 2nd Battalion of The Royal Gurkha Rifles and the Royal Air Force. While from overseas, the Crossed Swords Pipe Band from Germany, the Royal Caledonian Society of South Australia and the Royal Army of Oman. Edinburgh Castle esplanade, 8 August 2011.

A view of the Scottish scenery taken from across Scotland. Accompanied by the music Last of the Mohicans by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards from the Spirit Of The Glen Album. Available @ iTunes

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery…. More >>

Royal Edinburgh Her Saints, Kings, Prophets and Poets

Image taken on 2011-01-27 13:23:50.

Follow OSF Actors John Tufts and Christine Albright as they travel across the Atlantic for 10 days to England and France digging up the world and characters of Henry IV, pt. 2

British only please. No offence! I implore American Royalists to take her across the pond with you!

There has been 4 weeks or so of this scandal over MPs expenses. Rightly so, people are angry that elected officials are pissing away their money on tampons and islands for ducks. But what of our unelected officials? The Monarchy was given, with no expenses regulation, £40 million pounds last year of our money. This is a institution that has £7 billion in assets (mostly from historically seized land) that it has managed to plunder from us since 1066. This surely dwarfs the amount MPs have stolen from us. Prince Andrew spent £30,000 of taxpayers money helicopter flights around golf courses on a recent holiday, which was also tax payer funded. Was he sacked? No.

The great thing about MPs is at least we can vote them out. This is not true of the monarchy. They would receive these unearnt salaries even if they do no charity work or foreign visits (holidays).

People say “Would you prefer President Brown?”. Well, no he’s useless, but that’s not the point. We could vote for anbody we want, talented and hardworking people, and vote them out if they don’t live up to their promises.

The monarchy has no purpose. The money they pay in taxes (from land their ancestors stole in 1066) would be collected regardless of their position so it’s a moot point.

That they bring in tourist money is an asinine argument. Tourists come to see the castles, palaces, and crown jewels etc etc. I am not proposing we get rid of these. Honestly, how many tourists actually SEE the Queen. And why does France, a republic, have a larger tourist industry? This argument is completely irrelevent – I don’t think the point of Head of State is to be a glorified Chessington World of Adventures. The pomp and pagentry is not a good argument – that does not require monarchy.

Britain is mature and smart enough to ealise now that we don’t need to respect those who have simply earnt it by being born. Britain is worth a constitional, republican government. Such a government would set out the role of government, it’s functions and the separation of powers. It would end the abuse of the royal prerogative by the Prime minister and his cabinet (It happens more you think – look it up).

I invite you to think as I do, and that we become a mature nation.
I do not think the royal family define Britishness, not just because they are German/Greek.

I find it a bit patronising to think I am defined by an ancient institution that almost every other nation has shed long ago. It is embarrassing that other countries think we are backward island ‘subjects’.
Even if she was disrespectful, even if she was not upstanding, even if she was lewd she would still be Queen – and have all the trapping she has today.

That is the stupidity of monarchy. It’s simply luck of the draw.
1. The overwhelming majority of the so-called “historically seized land” was turned over to the nation during the reign of King George III. In exchange, the Royal Family receive annual payments from the Civil List. The monarchy was reorganized at that time, and the royal holdings incorporated into the Duchy of Lancaster, which oversees the Royal Family’s holdings, and on which the Royal Family pay taxes.

The land they do still have is still stolen. They did not buy, or earn that land in any respect. The money they receive is regardless of their performance, it is earnt by being born. I have to work for my money and I feel this is simply a vulgar tribute to past conquest.
2.
I argue not against the Queen specifically, who is a nice lady, but the institution she heads. I don’t think you can make the claim about representing everybody. Everyone has views. Does she represent the views of the Greens and BNP, UKIP and the Socialists equally. That is nonsense. It is just that she is barred from airing her inner most views – an illusion of neatrality. But could we say the same of Prince Philip or Charles? Such is the current luck that we have a monarch who knows how to be diplomatic.

The good qualities that the current monarch has are not connected to her title. She could hate us all secretly, and regardless of if we knew about this, would still be Queen. At least we can get rid of a President. At least we have a choice of who represents us!

Anyway the Queen is Defender of THE Faith: Anglicanism. This is no neatrality.
3. Again, her title was earnt before her experience. She could be a simpleton and still be Queen. Indeed, I suspect Charles is one.

Am I to belive that you propose the best way to choose a leader is by accident of birth? By being born, is a monarch more qualified than one who has studied and worked, and shown great aptitude as a leader?

Hereditary Monarchs are just as qualified as Hereditary pilots.

It is sheer luck.

Old Edinburgh’s Royal Mile — a dense tangle of historic buildings, quaint shops and fun museums — winds its way downhill from the medieval castle to Holyrood Palace. For more information on the Rick Steves’ Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com