I did point out with the rest of my waffle that it is, strictly speaking, "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." To answer Jim Dixon's point, the Isle of Wight is classed as part of Great Britain, (after all, you can walk there at certain low tides...) The Isle of Man is a crown dependency, not subject to Westminster parliament, same as Jersey etc, but running their own parliament. Scotland does now have a parliament, but only legislating for those areas devolved from Westminster. Wales has an assembly which is similar in some ways to Scotland but to set out the differences might just start another debate.. (!)

theleveller does have the right to feel he is not a subject of anyone, and if our monarch did try and push her constitutional rights, somebody may just push Cromwell's.   In any event, our head of state is a titular one. When other countries send their heads of state to discuss things such as at UN or G8, we send the Prime Minister, as he is the elected head of state. the Queen has a part to play hosting dinners, but you never see her debating international politics with other heads of state, as she is not a politician.

That said, theleveller has the right to say he is not a subject in the same way I have the right to say I am a banana. In the final analysis, I am not a banana and theleveller has to abide by the democratic will of the nation which at present is a constitutional monarchy. So, sorry mate, you are a subject. (Don't fret, earlier on the phone I was a cretin, a bastard and the anti christ, if an ex girlfriend who somehow got my number is to be believed....)

Anyway, off to a folk club in a while. I will "subject" Epworth to my proclamations.... Haven't been there for ages.