One of my favourite comedy creations is Miranda Richardson's Queen Elizabeth I in Blackadder II.
'Who's Queen?' is her continuous retort to anyone trying to prevent her from doing exactly as she likes, whenever she likes.
But it has occurred to me that now might be the time for Queen Elizabeth II to final zip into action, aged ninety two and after sixty six years on the throne. As we know, in a constitutional monarchy, the sovereign is not supposed to do anything more than lurk in the background. Advising once a week to the prime minister of the day, turning up for ceremonial tourist-pleasing duties and so on.
Yet we in the UK find ourselves in total limbo at the moment. And being terribly British, the refrain is now 'oh for heaven's sake, just get on with it'. Our politicians have shown themselves to be completely unequal to the task in hand. And the EU has nothing to gain from assisting the UK in making our suicidal leap any easier.
Isn't it time for the Queen to knock a few heads together? We pay an awful lot for the Royal Family to be there. Could this not be the ultimate payback? That the Queen saves us from Brexit chaos?
Our economy and businesses, our government and public services both national and local and our lives in general are hanging on the Brexit thread. No-one want to invest, to move, to travel, to buy stuff. There is talk of stockpiling food and medicines.
The Queen has lived through the War, through rationing, through endless crises. No public figure has more experience than she does. I am not a Royalist particularly but if anything was ever going to convince the country that it is worth having the Royal Family, surely this is the time. Take action, Ma'am! Use whatever powers the constitutional experts can dredge up! For the love of your people's sanity (and the endless news agenda), take action. The uncertainty has gone on too long.
I want to Remain. I always have. But I don't see how another referendum can address the fact that we are supposed to leave the EU in sixty seven days... Millions (billions?) have already been spent on leaving. Millions (probably billions) will be lost from no-one having a clue what is going on.
Who's Queen?
