Just a thought in passing Melboy. If we get rid of the Royals, we would still need some sort of Head of State to do all the ceremonial stuff that attracts the Tourists. Who would you fancy for the job? President Blair and the wife who dared to call herself the First Lady of the UK when on a lecture tour in the USA? Heaven forbid. She already refuses to curtsey to the Queen, but can manage to curtsey to Arab Royalty.