Royalties!

Well, the queen of England has had her ninetieth birthday. In the news reports on TV there were lots of pictures of female members of the royal family in expensive outfits and male members of the royal family in fancy dress. Oops, I meant to say military dress uniform, red tunics with lots of medals. I am a little unclear as to what exactly Charles and William have done to earn medals but who am I to question such things. According to some reports the youngest member of the royal family, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth stole the show with her charming waving. Isn't that always the way at family gatherings. 

At least nobody is clamouring for members of the British royal family to be sent to prison, as is happening in Spain. The organisation Manos Limpias wants to sent Iñaki Urdangarín, brother-in-law to King Felipe, to prison for 20 years and his wife the Infanta Cristina for 8 because of the corruption case, the caso Noos. Of course, we can no longer talk of her as the Infanta as she was sort of expelled from the royal family last year or the year before. What a come-down! Are they still the Duke and Duchess of Palma de Mallorca? Or did they lose that title as well? I don't think they are exactly living in misery; a bit stressed, no doubt, but I bet their children still go to expensive schools. 

 Getting back to our very own queen, every year "honours" are given out to mark her birthday. I have often been amazed at some of the reasons for which people receive honours. An article in the Guardian the other day took this sideways look at all of that: 

 "It can also be fun dreaming up alternative reasons for honours. It might announce “Roderick David Stewart (knighthood), for services to music and charity”, but let’s not forget his selfless sporting of comedy tam o’ shanters back in the day. Astronaut Tim Peake (CMG) for giving the nation an excuse to say: “Ground Control to Major Tim”; Ant and Dec (OBE) for services to “Geordieness”; Jamie Murray (OBE) for childhood bravery sharing bunk beds with sulky brother Andy; Brian Blessed (OBE) for ear-splitting theatrical booming beyond the call of duty; Alan Shearer (CBE) in his role as a football pundit, having the perfect vocal delivery to lull people into a deep coma, thus saving the cash-strapped NHS the need for anaesthetic." 

It quite cheered me up!