Photos: Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee

For so many, she is the only reigning royal they know

It is a fun thing as I see it, the Pomp and Circumstance (so-to-speak) of a time in history when Monarchy's were many and the festivities many as well... My wife and I watched some of the pageantry yesterday and this morning... Great Post, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel!!!

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
I shook her hand once, when I was in a group of 8 year-old kids at South Norwood Junior School in London. She asked us questions and smiled a lot, enjoying the walk around the school, with Prince Philip walking alongside her.
The only current world leader who's a veteran of World War II and who's shouldered a lot throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth is Britain's longest-reigning monarch, at seventy years on the throne.
I doubt the monarchy has much of a future once the Queen abdicates the throne. Prince Charles--whom many of us remember as a fun, friendly, and super-smart Royal, destroyed his reputation decades ago, which is sad, as many of us who were in school together recall his intelligence, interest in our activities, great breadth of knowledge (like his mum), and his deep sense of humour.
William would do a competent job, but in the final analysis, is the monarchy really necessary? The only cachet they bring to the table is bolstering tourism by simply existing on the taxed shoulders of British subjects. They're about to say goodbye to their "rule" over Jamaica and several other Commonwealth nations. None of my school chums from Selhurst think the monarchy should exist after she passes, and I quite agree...May God save the Queen (and may Parliament think twice about the need for a monarchy)!