I don't know much

I was watching Channel 4's Dispatches: The Problem Princes last night and being a new immigrant to the UK, I feel naively proud of the royal family. Growing up in Africa the idea of having a queen ruling a country sounded like a fairytale. I remember when Prince Charles and Lady Diana got married, every teacher in my school brought in their television set from home. Then later, when Prince William was born, I couldn't wait to see the pictures. I followed the lives of Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward. I cried when Diana died. So when I stood in the Wandsworth Town Council Hall about a year ago and took an oath of allegiance to faithfully support Her Majesty the Queen, I had a bit of a lump in my throat. I boisterously sang God Save the Queen in my slightly out of tune voice. For a while there I felt almost more British than some Brits, because this is something I choose. Now, I don't know much about the history of the House of Windsor or the royals. I only know what I've seen on television and in movies, read in magazines and newspapers. But for a new citizen to the UK like me it holds a romantic attraction. I have a queen now and I have taken an oath to support her. This alone has created a strange sense of belonging, far more so than joining a political party or signing up for some local volunteer work. It would be a sad day for me if they cease to be. I am totally aware of the fact that they spend millions of taxpayers' money. I know they have parties of epic proportions. And yes, some of the deals they make may be dubious to say the least. But what would England be without a queen or a king? I mean what will we sing at the beginning of a rugby match? God Save the Prime Minster? What would the Pound be without her face adorning it in all its majestic supremacy?