Happy 80th, Your Majesty!

That would be Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, celebrating her eightieth birthday today (well, yesterday by now, in London). Long may she reign, especially since the alternative is King Charles III and Queen Camilla. No personal offense meant to the Prince of Wales and his consort - so to speak, but it would be rather a let down after 54+ years of the sovereign class Bess the second has provided. Sort of like following up Radiohead in concert with Hall and Oates.

Just as an aside, I've always thought that the expression "Her Royal Highness" sounded a bit, well... funky. Nowadays people tend to associate the word "highness" with dope. So, to hear the expression in this context makes me imagine the Queen has some huge, smoking, illicit gunja crop in the inner courtyard of Buckingham. I have little regard for pot smoking, but I can't help but think that there's a generation out there who may suspect there's a reason that Elizabeth knighted Paul McCartney besides the music.

It doesn't help that Prince Philip always looks a bit stoned.