The Queen waits in Windsor
Elizabeth plays no role in the formation of her new government
Ceremonial soldiers stand stiffly on guard, chin up, eyes ahead, back straighter than a steel rod. The real guarding is done by armed police officers who are on duty in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, lazily cradling their automatic Heckler and Koch rifles. Beyond the gates and through the high ornate railings, tourists pose for photos at the official residence of the Queen.
On the flag staff high over the building, the United Kingdom’s Union Jack flag is flying.
There’s no point dropping in for tea — even if the ceremonial guards or armed police would allow it — Queen Elizabeth isn’t at home.
If the monarch is in residence, her Royal Standard flag flies in place of the union jack and flutters over the rose-coloured asphalt on The Mall, Constitution Hill and Birdcage Walk.
Across St. James’ Park and just beyond Horse Guard Road is 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the prime minister.
“She usually goes to Windsor on Thursdays,” observes one man with a London ‘cockney’ accent — making “Thursday” sound more like “Fursdays”.
“She goes to Windsor for the weekend,” the cockney offers.Except she left London earlier this week — and she’ll be staying longer than the weekend now.
With the political parties now beginning the long process of hammering out a coalition government after “Fursday’s” general election, she will remain there for as long as it takes.
From the M4 Motorway, it’s just possible to catch a glimpse of the Royal Standard flying over Windsor Castle, about 45 kilometres to the west of Central London.
In the past week, she has seen her second great-grandchild, little Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana for the first time. (A zoo in Japan has apologised for giving a newborn monkey the same name.)
Elizabeth is above politics even though officially, the prime minister and his Cabinet all serve in Her Majesty’s Government.
According to the Cabinet Manual, if there is no outright majority, the parliamentary parties should “seek to determine and communicate clearly to the sovereign … who is best placed to be able to command the confidence of the House of Commons”.
That person will then be invited by the Queen — who plays no other role in the process, to become prime minister, and form the new government.
As it stands now, the Queen is pencilled in on May 27 to give the Queen’s Speech — reading the details of the new government’s plans in the forthcoming session of parliament.