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Without the Queen, all of our lives would be much the poorer

Head of state is a job that requires an inexhaustible tolerance of self-regarding politicians, vainglorious foreign potentates, tedium and ritual.

Most of us would not wish it upon ourselves, and no democratic republic would inflict it for more than a decade. But the Queen has stuck to the task for six times as long ("Tributes to Queen on 60th anniversary of succession", The Herald, February 7, and Letters, February 7 & 8). Now she faces the alarming possibility of her realm being torn asunder during her final years. That is poor reward for 60 years of devotion to duty.