Ruminations From the Glen

  Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I have had numerous conversations with other Americans, and with non-Americans, alike, about why it is that the monarchy has maintained such an enduring hold upon the American imagination. The United States, it almost goes without saying, has a long, complicated history with the monarchy, and not just the British monarchy, either. It is the British crown which seems to have gotten under our skin, however. Although present day US territory has found itself under the French, Spanish, Mexican, Russian, Hawaiian, and even Danish crowns, it tends to be our relationship with the British monarchy upon which Americans tend to focus. This has everything to do, of course, with the historical drama of the American Revolution and the subsequent War of 1812. During the Revolution, American colonials, against all odds, defeated the overwhelming forces of the vast British Empire (with oodles of help from the French and others), sent the king’s men packing,

THE MORNING of Thursday, September 8, saw me happily rising from bed to greet a perfectly lovely late summer day. I had been enjoying some vacation time since Labor Day and, as it happened, it had rained each day. On Wednesday evening, however, the clouds at last ceased their downpouring and floated away, leaving clear skies in their wake. On Thursday morning, therefore, I was determined to make the most of the only nice-weather day in my four-day-long holiday, so I headed to a beach club which I frequent during the summer months. Although I often have steamed clams for lunch when I go to that club, I anticipated a cheeseburger this time instead, since this place has what I am convinced are the very best burgers in the known universe. A burger, then, I was determined to order. As I prepared to depart, however, news began to trickle in that there was some sort of stirring at Balmoral. Members of the British royal family were said to be travelling to the highland retreat of Queen Elizabe