Overreaction to Queen

The conundrum as to who should attend our commemoration of 1916 is persisting. There has been an overreaction to, and misinterpretation of, Queen Elizabeth’s comments.

I am not familiar with the subtlety of diplomatic engagement, but my interpretation of her phrase “my family and my government will stand alongside you” is timely acknowledgement by the British royal family and the Westminster parliament, and not a case of “please can I come to your birthday party”.

Perhaps a more significant event meriting royal and Westminster representation is the centenary, in January 2022, of the official hand-over by the Lord Lieutenant, Viceroy FitzAlan, to Michael Collins, thus relinquishing English control in Ireland after 753 years and 7 minutes.