And now for one that our English friends (and you too Jim) may appreciate.
In the UK, the only person allowed to and actually does drive without a driver's license is.... The Queen (currently, but any monarch, male or female). The reason is that licenses are issued in the name of the monarch, so it is assumed the human who actually issues driver's licenses would not actually need to issue one to him / her self. Even better, QEII travels anywhere in the world without a passport as she does not need one for the exact same reason stated above. Finally, as all laws, courts and the entire legal process in the UK is done in the monarch's name and by her authority, common law does not apply to her; she is literally 'above the law'. At least that is the theory, one must assume there would have to be some consequences if her majesty were to go on a bank- robbing spree, for example. By the same logic, she owns the Crown Jewels but I betcha' she could, for example, sell them. :-)
And now for the no- cost extra: QEII signs official documents 'Elizabeth R', the 'R' standing for Regina which is not a part of her name but rather her position: Regina means Queen in Latin. So effectively, she is signing as "Elizabeth, Queen". I would have to agree that she is one of the very few people in the world who does not really need a last name, middle initial or any other identifier (she has all of them though, being baptized "Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, and her last name is Windsor, from the House of Windsor while her children's last name is Mountbatten- Windsor).
While I am not the subject of any monarch nor do I have any desire to be one, I do have a great deal of admiration for the Queen and Prince Phillip. They have 'done their duty' diligently and with dignity for basically their entire lives, regardless of what they might or might not prefer themselves. I personally think the office of Monarch is far more of a burden and duty then a luxury myself, and the current Regent has given far more to her nations than she has received. Hell, I would go so far as to suggest they, along with the other prominent members of the royal family, generate far more money than they use simply by attracting foreigners to see them and spend tourist money in the UK, especially Americans!
Brian
