Monarch, Bedeck Thy Palace

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is a truly admirable personage. She has adapted well to changing times, although it has been an undeniably painful experience for her. She has aged gracefully. She has continued to do her duty to her country, a constitutional monarchy. None others, such as those which exist in Belgium, Cambodia, Jordan, The Netherlands, Spain, appear to enjoy as much public attention and celebration on an international basis.

But then, Queen Elizabeth rules over the Commonwealth, a historical, traditional, in-gathering of nations during the era of imperialistic Great Britain, when that sea-faring island ventured well beyond its Atlantic shoreline to claim colonial powers over countries far and wide, in the process enriching her coffers, in competition with Spain and France. The Commonwealth of countries aligned with Great Britain and still in obscure ways allied to her are 53 in number.

These 53 separate states, once symbols of Great Britain's vast outreach and hunger for ever greater power, to satiate her appetite for natural resources that added to her wealth and prestige, represent 1.7-billion people. A full 30% of the world's population. It is nostalgia that keeps most of these once-colonial countries within the Commonwealth, although there is also a tacit recognition that their status now owes something to that long-ago time.

Britain was both an imperial occupier, who ravished the lands she occupied, and regally and paternalistically administered those lands, in the process absorbing indigenous administrators into her structure of governance - becoming the source from which these diverse countries' system of parliamentary rule, and justice emanated. Some good was seen to have evolved from the human injustice of colonial rule and rapine.

Queen Elizabeth is known to be one of the wealthiest women in the world. Although the actual size of her fortune is unknown, it is understood to be vast. Her ownership of a huge collection of art representing world-class masterpieces - the genius of ages long past - and her collection of fabled jewels form only one part of her wealth. Vast real estate holdings and wise investments comprise other portions of her riches.

But it is the country, the tax-payers of Great Britain who surrender a certain portion of their hard-earned wages, that are tasked with the upkeep of all this pomp and pageantry. The royal family's entourage of household servants, their various royal palaces, their travel and household expenses are supported by taxation. Now it would seem that there exists a whopping $64.2-million backlog of repairs for Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace, unlike Windsor Castle, for which the Queen takes personal responsibility, belongs to the country, and is paid for by the country. Like many of the other royal residences where other members of the royal family reside. There is a need to replace the roof at Buckingham Palace, to remove asbestos, to re-wire the edifice, and to redecorate many of its rooms which haven't been changed since 1952, when she ascended to the throne.

There is a current $30-million annual grant for maintenance of the royal residences, but the Queen has requested an additional $8-million increase. Alas, the government has rejected the request. "It was a major disappointment to us. That money was badly needed", said the Queen's accountant. The fabled art gallery which contains works by the world's master artists of yore has a leaking roof.

Understandably, the Queen is much concerned with the gradual deterioration of her palaces. She is considered by many Britons - indeed many from within the Commonwealth still under the sway of the Crown - to have outlived her usefulness. On the other side of the ledger, there appears an equal number who feel she earns her keep. There is little doubt she has dedicated her life to her country as its titular royal head, that of its symbolic "Defender of the Faith" in the Anglican Church, and chief of its military.

She must be kept in the style to which she is accustomed. That style no longer the monopoly of royalty, although the respect given royalty remains unchallenged. On the other hand, this is an inordinately wealthy woman who has amassed unheard-of-wealth. There are many charitable enterprises which could make good use of some of that wealth. Among them, perhaps, the need to deliver assistance to her own royal residences.

Perhaps in the process freeing up state funds for other useful and needed purposes. Olympic games not included.