you don’t know what a future monarch will do. They might do something extremely silly. Just because the incumbent has kept her nose clean for 50 odd years - no mean feat, to be sure - doesn’t mean her heirs will do the same.

And by 2040, say, the Pommy Land will be a very different place. The Mohammedans, who apparently breed like rabbits, will be practically running the joint, on some accounts. (Just ask Melanie Phillip and that Canadian geezer whose name I forget but Alexander Downer used to swear by him.) The affection for the House of Windsor might not be what it is today.

I didn’t say it was likely. Indeed it is very unlikely. Which is why if it happens, it will happen for extraordinary reasons, and hence be sudden and unexpected.

unless the monarch actually tries to do something really silly

As opposed to something sensible like expressing a desire to be transmogrified into a feminine hygiene product…

2. The provisions of this Act referring to the Queen shall extend to Her Majesty’s heirs and successors in the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

to me it is fairly clear that, in the event of the UK becoming a republic the President (or other HoS) would be the valid successor to the sovereignty. Of course, if there is not a titular HoS there is another issue (it would probably be the HoG). The only real issue would be if the new constitution of the UK expressly invested sovereignty in “The People” (as in the US).
IMHO this is a nonsence issue anyway. In the event that the UK were to move to a republican form of government it would be a trigger for us here to look at it again. No issue.
To me this is one issue that will quietly bubble along in the background for decades, to be resurrected as and when a government needs a smokescreen for something they need to or want to hide. It’s ideal as a smokescreen, so I do not think anyone will actually do it as it can be used as a smokescreen many times - but is only likely to be done once.

These tourists: do they block infrastructure? do they shoplift? do they get all the good looking blokes?

Why does she loathe them so?

Actually we were at a cafe, discussing the previous governments (then the current government) terrible record on infrastructure, when mother called me an infrastructure blockage. She does things like that from time to time, as I have a thick hide and she can let off steam. It hurts no one is less disruptive than shooting at tourists.

Or ports, Katz. Perhaps he was one of those “Nippers for the MUA” who spontaneously sprang to the defence of the wharfies, and parked their tricycles defiantly across the road to Webb Dock??

Yep, could be water. The time the bright young pre-Lord stuffed some tissues and glue down the sink and they had to call a plumber and consequently were without the use of the sink for eleven days plus overtime.

It’s anyone’s guess really, but I’m impressed that as a young fella he noted down the term, kept it fondly, and offered it to us all as a sentimental anecdote.

Huzzahs!

It is difficult to say for sure that your mother wasn’t stating merely the literal, unvarnished truth.

Did she make this comment more than once?

Do you think that your mother had any particular form of infrastructure in mind? Water, gas, sewerage, etc.

Had you actually been tampering with some form of infrastructure when she made that observation?

we underlings can only wonder at your good humour in making a small jest concerning chins, after receiving this little steaming heap from your interlocutor:
“epicene complacency of the congenitally chinless.”

We lower orders will shout huzzahs, as you continue unruffled to put your points. I bid you good day, Lordship.