by John Roumain

Created on: March 29, 2011

Am I am monarchist? Ummm – no, but then that is irrelevant and not the title of this article.

Throughout the world when foreign leaders visit the UK, their prime target appointment is an audience with HRH Queen Elizabeth and the kudos from that meeting, should it take place, is seen in their home country as that individual's acceptance by the international community as "one of us!" Do not underestimate the importance of such an audience. Had President Obama not been invited to meet the Queen during his first visit to the UK after election, the inferred "rejection" of his position as President of the United States of America would have resounded not only throughout that country, but throughout the entire world. Only the forthcoming visit of the Queen to the Republic of Ireland, whilst contentious, can truly signify the end of an horrific era of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

The Queen along with her siblings, are often in the unique position of opening doors for the business community that may otherwise be closed. When the Queen tours another country, tagging along behind in the entourage are senior businessmen from the UK, hoping to sneak through those doors that the Queen has opened and secure large profitable and job-intensive contracts for their companies and ultimately their employees. Yes, it may be argued that certain members of the current Royal family are not as adept in carrying out this function as the Queen herself but I cannot help feel that if Princess Diana had survived, the UK would have had in her probably the best salesperson that any company could hope to employ! Do we have a successor in Kate Middleton?

Pomp and circumstance is especially what the Royal family is good at and what makes the UK unique throughout the world, whether it be the opening of Parliament, the Olympic Games or, as shortly to happen, a Royal wedding! An invitation to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is probably the most sought-after event invitation in the current calendar. Yes the event will be a costly one and yes we, the British people, will probably have to contribute to the initial costs. However the immediate benefits through tourism and the long-term benefits as they tour the world after their marriage, will more than offset these initial costs.

Ask any member of the UK Armed Forces for whom they fight and their response will immediately be "my Queen and country". It is in their Oath when they enroll in the services and their "raison d'etre” in the first place. It is the Queen who awards the medals for their brave acts of gallantry, not the Prime Minister!

No, the Royal family may not be perfect! One might argue that Prince Charles should forgo his “right” to be the future King due to his continuing relationship whilst married to Princess Diana. In a similar fashion, one might query the actual effectiveness of Prince Andrew as Trade Ambassador for the UK. But where others might “fail” within her family, the Queen more than compensates for their inadequacies.

The Royal family is unique throughout the world and is an institution of which we British should be proud. In my opinion, the Royal family is and will continue to be far from irrelevant.

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