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Peter
You have summed up the whole thing perfectly. You are right, working class is no more than a state of mind, yet monarchy still continues to be a 'social condition'.
I have nothing against the queen and her family, they say some pretty funny things. If anything I just think it's all a bit silly: kings, queens, princes, princesses, evil stepmothers, dragons etc.
As for this gift it is not the signified but the signifier that shows Michael Gove to be so lacking in imagination and understanding. He wants legacy and he comes up with this, the sort of symbol that stinks of oil tycoon, it's just a cheap, tasteless and thoughtless jesture.
The money could be used to mark the occasion and demonstrate the nobility (in the noble sense) and kindness of the queen. Some kind of social project/object that would show the monarchy to be a truly good thing, marking the queen for her commitment to our country.
Instead we have "look at my yacht, aren't we proud to be british"...nice one Mr Gove!
