I'd Like To Drop My Trousers To The Queen.

Morrissey said that in 'Nowhere Fast' and I'm inclined to agree with him at the moment. Why? I here you collectively ask. Well I'm sure you'll be joining me in a mass Republican moon after I divulge some information that has come my way regarding the shocking money making schemes that Buckingham Palace are involved with.

Now you maybe aware that a friend of mine has recently been awarded a Royal Badge in the Birthday Honours List. This is richly deserved, whatever your views of the honours system are. The date for the palatial visit has been set for November and my friend has been given further information about the souvenirs she can purchase to remind her of the day. Now I must admit to being surprised that you have to purchase these items. Surely, as a person who has been rewarded by the Queen one could expect that the items would be given to you. It seems not. However, what is a couple of quid for a photograph of you and Her Madge and a nice 30 minute DVD to mark the ocassion?

If only it was a couple of quid. If you want a photo of the moment they will set you back £17.50 a pop!! How outrageous is that? Not as outrageous as the cost of the DVD. The cost of this is a staggering £147.00 for a 30 minute DVD!!! That is bloody daylight robbery! How dare they charge this type of money for a flipping DVD!!

To a highly paid sports star, or an actor or captain of industry who has bought his peerge, this kind of money is a drop in the ocean. Probably a cost of a bottle of wine at The Ivy. However, isn't the Honours system meant to be for the 'ordinary' people of this country. For instance a Lollypop lady who has helped children across the road for 30 years and who earns minimum wage or a charity worker who has devoted their life to the cause for no recompense. How are they meant to afford £147 for a DVD? They will probably scrape the money together too as they will want some kind of memory of the day. It will go past in a blur otherwise and they won't be able to remember it all.

I think Buckingham Palace should be ashamed of itself. They aren't short of a few bob after all and this is a licence to print money. I have never been a Royalist, quite the opposite in fact, and this has only strenghtened my resolve that the sooner we get rid of them the better.