The Queen Joins Facebook

H3xx writes "The Queen is set to have an official presence on Facebook when a British Monarchy page launches on the internet-based social networking site. Buckingham Palace says it is not a personal profile page, but users can 'like' the service and receive updates on their news feed. The Queen has reportedly embraced the web and sends e-mails. A British Monarchy Twitter feed is also available. The Facebook page is due to go live from Monday morning. The page will also feature the Court Circular, recording the previous day's official engagements."

Comments

She's a bit late to the party,

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

'Cos there's LOTS of Brit Queens on Facebook.

Re:She's a bit late to the party,

[pyrrhonist]

She already has one. Unfortunately, it's kdawson.

Age

[entotre]

The Queen is 84 years old, in case you were wondering :)

Re:Age

[Pharmboy]

And her mother lived to over 100. Poor Charles.

I was thinking poor Camilla. Can you imagine having a mother-in-law that may live to be 100, and not only THINKS she's the frickin' Queen of England, but actually IS the frickin' Queen of England. Oh, and don't forget, when mum-in-law says "You aren't good enough for my boy", it's based on centuries of tradition and unwritten law. Gotta be some awkward family meals on Sundays around that place.

Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[ysth]

Can the Queen of Canada be far behind?

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[Hope Thelps]

Is there any list of titles she holds? She is the queen of many things, the head a large number of organizations, and for someone that wasn't raised under a monarchy, it all seems very confusing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_titles_and_honours_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[Anonymous Coward]

she

That's Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith, Duchess of Edinburgh, Countess of Merioneth, Baroness Greenwich, Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Mann, Duke of Normandy, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Garter, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order, Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Sovereign of the Order of British India, Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of Burma, Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII, Sovereign of the Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, Sovereign of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem to you, thank you very much.

-- Liz.

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[Mikkeles]

or, Mrs. Mountbatten, if you prefer.

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[jonbryce]

She is the Duchess of Normany, which covers Jersey. They aren't big enough to have a queen.

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[shutdown -p now]

The Monarchy will pass to Charles; I could find nothing of countries planning to end the monarchy when Elizabeth dies.

There is an unofficial agreement between all Commonwealth states that, even though their respective succession laws can be changed by them unilaterally, they will not do so without the consent of all member states, with the sole exception of one of the members abolishing monarchy (since that doesn't affect others). This ensures that for members which are monarchies, the heads of the state will always remain "in sync".

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[cthugha]

It's not so much unofficial: it's expressly incorporated into the preamble of the Statute of Westminster. Now, whether that's legally enforceable has never been tested.

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[16Chapel]

Obvservant slashdotters may notice a country missing from that list: England.

She is not the queen of England, there is no Queen of England, hasn't been since the Act of Union in 1707.

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[Chrisq]

It's not so much unofficial: it's expressly incorporated into the preamble of the Statute of Westminster. Now, whether that's legally enforceable has never been tested.

You could quite easily get into logical knots, if teh Queen is monarch she could use the royal prerogative to instruct the government to enforce it - which would mean that she would be monarch and have the power....

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[Chrisq]

Our queen is the queen. It does not meen that much anymore. She can block any law but if she did parliment would throw her out. So yes she has power but cannot use it. Such is the state of the UK.

The problem with an unwritten constitution is that since it has not happened (at least since Oliver Cromwell) nobody knows if and how they government could throw her out. There is more historical precedence to say that the Queen could dismiss her parliament and take direct rule. If it comes down to it the armed forces and police swear allegiance to the Queen. I believe that all the Government has to defend against them is the serjeant at arms, who would not last long against the combined forces!

Re:Facebook pages for roles, not people?

[tehcyder]

Well, OK then she's also not separately Queen of Scotland, London, the river Trent or my garden shed. I don't see your point, they're all in the UK.

So?

[i_ate_god]

So?

Re:Inane

[Anonymous Coward]

Anonymous Coward likes this post.

It's not like the royal family has any privacy!

[Xtifr]

It's not like the royal family has any privacy left anyway, so, unlike the rest of us, there's no real reason for her not to join facebook! :)

Re:It's not like the royal family has any privacy!

[Antony T Curtis]

It's not like the royal family has any privacy left anyway, so, unlike the rest of us, there's no real reason for her not to join facebook! :)

The Royal Family has never had any real privacy to speak of... that is one of the prices that they pay for being The Royal Family.

Besides, the Queen sent her first email back in 1976 ... before much of the Slashdot audience was even born.

Re:It's not like the royal family has any privacy!

[Anonymous Coward]

Something like "My father was King George VI, he had a great fortune in an overseas account and I need your help for which you will get 25% ...."

Re:It's not like the royal family has any privacy!

[KingAlanI]

could you say the same of non-royal celebrities as well?
Perhaps they try to hold on to what little bit of privacy they have left.

Re:It's not like the royal family has any privacy!

[Pharmboy]

This could become a revenue stream for facebook.. The leaking of royalty's hidden profile pictures to tabloids

So you are thinking that the Queen will post pics of herself bikini clad, but only for her friends, and Facebook will just leak those photos for profit? You do realize there is no "Step 2.", but more importantly, no "Step 1." in your plan to "Step 3. Profit!"?

Re:It's not like the royal family has any privacy!

[Clived]

Seems all her Royal Highness needs now is a /. account ...:P

Will FaceBook be adopting the royal seal?

[bkmoore]

Now that the Queen of England is on FaceBook, will FaceBook be adopting the Royal Seal as the "Official Social Networking Site" of the Royal Court? I think its on Twinings Tea and Hoover Vacuum Cleaners use the seal.

Re:Will FaceBook be adopting the royal seal?

[ickoonite]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Warrant

By appointment to HRH Queen Elizabeth II
Facebook UK Limited
Social Networking Services

...or something along those lines.

Re:Will FaceBook be adopting the royal seal?

[Marcika]

Royal Warrants are only awarded to tradesmen. The professions, employment agencies, party planners, the media, government departments, and "places of refreshment or entertainment" (such as pubs and theatres) do not qualify.

I doubt Facebook qualifies as a tradesman. Facebook instead seems to qualify on several of the excluded categories like party planners and "places of entertainment". If you got the Queen an iPhone that might qualify though.

Looking it up on the list, you would be late: she apparently already gets her iPhones from Carphone Warehouse...

Quick!

[Greyfox]

Everyone friend her and go "Hellllllooooooo!"

Re:Inane

[mcneely.mike]

Ignore.

Re:Selfies of the queen?

[Octopuscabbage]

Also: Is it against the law to poke the queen on facebook?

Re:Great!!!!

[socsoc]

I don't have Facebook, but as far as I know, Pages cannot join groups, only Profiles can.

Re:Meh.

[Sulphur]

"G-d bless our queer old dean" - some albino guy

William Archibald Spooner - some Albian guy. It was a reference to Queen Victoria, "Our Dear Old Queen."

Re:Wonderful

[SenseiLeNoir]

Well Said.

Search on youtube somewhere there is a video where the queen is talking from her heart, about her role and so on. Its a different take on things, where she is talking very personally. Its definately one to watch, and shows her dedication of her job as monarch.

Remember, unlike us, she was "born into the job". She cannot change her job, if she doesn't like it. She cannot retire to a cottage somewhere afterwards, she only retires when she dies.

She is highly insightful, yet can be extremely down to earth.

Personally I think she is a person who takes her role very seriously, and I would rather have her than a president B-liar, Camara-on (Cameron), who only have to work for "terms" then can "retire" to a lucrative lecture cuircuit.

I also think Charles woudl make a great king when he gets a chance, he is also very insightful, and can be far ahead of his time.