The Queen has really scarcely any power; her rule is little more than nominal.

Every Englishman knows that England is a monarchy only in name.

But the Queen represents to every Englishman more than a woman and more than a queen: she represents England, English race feeling, English love of country, English power, English dignity; she is a symbol, and as a symbol sacred.

The soldier jokingly calls her "the Widow"; he makes songs about her; all this is well and good.

But a soldier who cursed her a few years ago was promptly sent to prison for twenty years.