My mother was born in Canada, and my father spent his first 9 years there. Every time I visited relatives in Montreal, (in the 1950s and early 1960s, before the French took over), I had the thrilling feeling I was visiting "Little England". (Reading, later, that Imperial England had considered Canada to be the "First Daughter" of the Empire, thrilled me immensely!) As a deeply romantic girl and adolescent, (and profound admirer of QE II.....who, I knew, was far more powerful than all the little male-chauvinists in my first and second grade classes put together....hurrah!), I took -- and still take -- a great interest in all English affairs, and history....and especially in English royalty, past and present. After all, the "American Dream" is to live as well as possible, (without, hopefully, hurting anyone else).....and who lives in better circumstances than the English (and perhaps other) Royal families? I believe most American, (and other?) admirers of the Royals today feel the way I do....NOT slavish adoration, (although Her Majesty, as a human being, has certainly earned that, in spades....as did her father, King George VI).......but simply as a model of the "good life", which we ambitious "wannabees" would truly want to live and emulate!

What you mention about Diana is very true. I have read that the "sticking point" between Diana and the other Royals was that Diana wanted the focus of the Royal Family to change, from that of being "National Icons", to being simply "Celebrities". Although I have also read somewhere, of someone (unkindly?) describing the profession of the Royals as being "performance artists", in my own heart, I believe they are far more. They are the symbol, for better or worse, of what the country of England, the nation of Great Britain, and the wider British Commonwealth, is all about. I have also read that the Royal Family is to Britain, what the Flag is to the United States. Yes...there's a lot of truth in that, but flags, of course, do not have scandals, and do not have self-propelled moments of deep triumph.....such as the Queen had, when, all alone, she calmly talked to the intruder who hae entered her bedroom -- and neither screamed nor fainted -- until help could be summoned. THIS showed the true character of rhe person who now occupies the British Throne as no ceremony ever could. She shows that the "best" of Britain did NOT die with her mother! It continues on with Queen Elizabeth II......and will, I daresay, also continue with Prince William, when he becomes William V! (Perhaps, also, with the intervening Prince Charles, when he becomes King Charles III.....as I suspect he has learnt much from both his tumultuous relationship with Diana, (and the Press and People), and also, I suspect, from the simple kind-heartedness, empathy, and earnestness, of his own son and heir, Prince William. ( Not believing what I had heard -- that Prince William really would prefer NOT to become King -- I bought several books and read up on him. My conclusions? William is indeed a role-model for the entire World to follow -- and I agree with so many others who say that, should (the unthinkable happen and) Britian become a republic, that William would, indeed, have an excellent chance of becoming its first President. (Another exemplary Royal, King Simeon II of Bulgaria, held power as Prime Minister of that country for quite some time!)

Are people today softer and more loving of "creature comforts" than they were during World War II? Yes. For those who lived through WWII also, in great numbers, lived through the Great Depression. They know/knew what hardship is.....and were willing to risk it, for the greater goal of freedom.

However.....with such leadership as Prince William's in Britain's future, and such recent tragedies as "9/11" in the memory of today's generation, I feel that people in Britain -- as well as those in the rest of the world -- will once more rally when danger strikes, (as they already have, with Britain and others giving troops for the War in Iraq, at this very moment!)

Diana's legacy -- and that of her son's -- is that the English, I feel, will no longer fight for "King and Contry". They will, however, fight (and fight vigourously), for "Ourselves, Country and King". As more and more people feel they are NOT "getting above themselves", by ambitiously aiming for the best, (not only for aristocrats....but for EVERYONE....themselves included), they will nonetheless look still for leadership -- INCLUSIVE leadership, such as Prince William seems to proudly espouse. Diana -- his mother -- aristocratic, but not, before her marriage, royal -- taught him the true value of honouring everyone, no matter what their social or economic status, and to judge people individually, on their own merits, no matter what their class. The actor Michael Caine totally refused to change his own Cockney accent, for a more "posh" one, reasoning that the accent of his parents was as good as anyone else's. He is now Sir Michael Caine, has had an extemely distinguished career.....and actors with Cockney accents are no longer relegated to stereotyped, comedic-relief roles. Television, radio, and computers have opened the world to everyone....yes, the world has changed considerably since WWII.

Are people more lazy now? Yes. But we still love freedom! With such leadership as Prince William promises to give, and our own intense desires to KEEP our freedoms, AND our creature comforts, any new would-be World Dictator will have a great and troubling war on his (or her) hands.....as Osma Bin Laden is now finding out! Hitler would NOT go through us like "crap through goo". HE WOULD, INSTEAD, SLIP AND FALL! Woe betide anyone who would take our comforts away from us in 2007......and beyond! "9/11" has taught us much. As a native New Yorker, I know this is true. As an American, I know this is true. As a citizen of the Western World, I know this is true. As a person who values my freedom and my creature comforts, I know this is true. Today, we are not sloths....although we may seem that way. We are porcupines. Leave us alone to live our own lives, our own way, and all will be well. But if you disturb us......!!!!!!!

How I wish that Prince William's great-grandfather, George VI, the brave and admirable King during WWII, were alive today. He would not only be incredibly proud of his daughter....but also of his great-grandson. The spirit of pride, and of liberty -- for ourselves, as well as for our leaders -- lives today, as I hope it always shall!