General Chat

The Queen's Speech 2004

“Most of us have learned to acknowledge and respect the ways of other cultures and religions, but what matters even more is the way in which those from different backgrounds behave towards each other in everyday life.” The criteria required of a candidate of Royal marriage are that he or she be born in wedlock, of a marriage contracted in accordance with the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, and that he or she not be a Roman Catholic or have married one. Hypocritical or what!

I didn't bother watching it, but totally agree with your comments. My dad said the same thing. Lucia :-)

actually daniel ,i think you will find it to be the government of the days hypocrisy as they make the laws not the royal family sean

The Queen performs a range of important duties, such as summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament and giving Royal Assent to legislation passed by the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament or the Northern Ireland Assembly. She could change it if she wanted to

If you look at how religon as torn our country apart. Throughout our history (I'm refering specifically to CofE/Catholic relations). It makes perfect sense. And as has been already stated, blame parliment NOT the royal family past or present. In addition to this the reigning Monarch is the head of the Church of England. It is not simple to just do away with such things. There are far greater injustices than this in the world. Why do we have to negate our own culture and traditions to prove we are not discriminating.

Sorry Daniel, I'm a possible thicko.........but what is your point?

I go along with you Bob, maybe we're both thickos, Daniel, what IS your point?......... Brian

The Queen lives the life she was born to, as do we all. she didn,t choose her parents. I would suggest she has done an excellent job - and continues to do so, even in her late 70s. She is a credit to the country. Best wishes

The point is, The Queen is happy to preach to us about tolerating other religions etc, and rightly so, but the fact that she doesn't allow her own family to marry anyone from the Roman Catholic faith seems make a mockery of what she is saying.

Anglican Catholic Methodist Mormon, it doesn't make any difference. After all the head of them all is supposed to be Jesus Christ.

That is why I moved away from Organised Religion. I've learnt the lessons in Sunday School, I have a copy of the instruction manual, and God blessed me with a brain. So now I try to live as I believe He wants me to. And, by the way, that does not include any violence.

Daniel I think you have a very good point. A speech that preaches tolerance is fair enough and only right, but not from someone who does not or cannot do the same. The speech should not have been written for or even said by the Queen who is the head of the Church Of England, and has to adhere to that unless the Royals request change, which they can. As far as I know Prince Michael's wife is a Catholic? but he had to renounce the lineage to the thrown when marrying her? It is a case of do as I say not as I do. Hypocritical? yes Daniel it is. Pat x

The Queen is head of the Church of England. She's a religious figurehead as well as the monarch. Do you think the Chief Rabbi would shack up with a Hindu, or that the Pope would surround himself with Muslim advisors?

Pat is correct - not only is Prince Michael of Kent's wife roman catholic but was divorced.

Henry eighth could change things around, so why not our queen! Sylvia xxx

Because our Queen is a figure head only she cannot draft bills

Sylvia Henry the Eighth could change things because he was an absolute monarch, answerable to no-one but himself. Our present Queen is not!

Daniel, To which roman catholic are you refering ? The only likely candidate for a wedding, I can see on the horizon, is a Zimbabwean?

None in particular, but that is the law if any of them ever wanted to.