When we are born we are all equal in the eyes of God. It matters not whether your parents live in Buckingham Palace or in the slums of Liverpool. We are equal. For me that is a core belief and as such I can be nothing other than a Republican.
I can't say that I feel strongly enough about the issue to do anything about it. As a capitalist I note the great bang for our buck we the taxpayer get from the Windsor family so in that sense why chase them off the state payroll. There are millions of greedy, lazy and overpaid public sector shirkers far more deserving of a P45, notably all social workers and most teachers, lecturers and greedy bastard junior doctors. Not to mention the MPs. But when it comes to the monarchy I bend my knee for no-one.
On the other hand, even as a passive Republican, I must accept that the Queen did not choose to be Queen but stepped into the role out of a sense of duty. In reaching 90 she has achieved a personal milestone. And as a Monarch, if anyone has to do the job it should be her, there should be no Queen but while there are you could not get a better one than Elizabeth Windsor.
In the unlikely event that I reach ninety I can think of nothing worse than wandering along the streets smiling at a bunch of old people, dressed in red, white and blue. All the time you must show utter grace. Surely I'd would want a day at home watching old Inspector Morse episodes while my other half joined me with some high calorie nibbles and a bottle of ouzo. But the Queen spent her birthday, as she always does, giving pleasure to those who wish to bend their knees to her.
Sometimes I consider that it is she who is cursed and all of the other citizens blessed.