The Platinum Jubilee

[ChopinWasFramed!]

70 years ago today (already Feb 6 across the pond), George VI died of cancer, and his daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Commonwealth of Nations.

If she makes it just two more years, she will be the longest reigning monarch in European history, surpassing Louis XIV, the Sun King, who reigned 72 years, from the age of 5 to his death at 77 in 1715.

[MetalPSI]

So close

[ChopinWasFramed!]

So close

Wasn't meant to be...

[Herbert]

I've always found the American fascination with the British royal family interesting while at the same time being completely irrelevant. Perhaps it's a holdover of the origins of America or our long history with our British allies, I don't know.

[ChopinWasFramed!]

I've always found the American fascination with the British royal family interesting while at the same time being completely irrelevant. Perhaps it's a holdover of the origins of America or our long history with our British allies, I don't know.

I've been a little bit more fascinated than most because they're relatives, albeit distantly. I'm a Howard, and the Dukes of Norfolk are my family. Anne Boleyn was also a Howard, and her daughter was Elizabeth I. We're cousins. And we're all descendants of Henry III (along with several million other people, including probably all of you.)

But that and a quarter'll get you a pack of gum if it was 1973, so there you go. When you are the 9th son of the 5th son in the 1600s, your descendants are pretty much nobodies.

[ChopinWasFramed!]

I've always found the American fascination with the British royal family interesting while at the same time being completely irrelevant. Perhaps it's a holdover of the origins of America or our long history with our British allies, I don't know.

I've been a little bit more fascinated than most because they're relatives, albeit distantly. I'm a Howard, and the Dukes of Norfolk are my family. Anne Boleyn was also a Howard, and her daughter was Elizabeth I. We're cousins. And we're all descendants of Henry III (along with several million other people, including probably all of you.)

But that and a quarter'll get you a pack of gum if it was 1973, so there you go. When you are the 9th son of the 5th son in the 1600s, your descendants are pretty much nobodies.

Hi Stu!

You're more than welcome here. Metal has made that plain.

You just have to play nice. And I don't think it's in you. I don't think you even understand what that means.

You could prove me wrong.

[ChopinWasFramed!]

And just to correct you, no. The Howards are NOBILITY, not ROYALTY.

The only royal members of the Howard family were Anne Boleyn, who was elevated to the position by virtue of her marriage to Henry VIII, and their daughter, Elizabeth I.

[MetalPSI]