Originally Posted by Isbjørn

I'd gladly shake her hand, but I would not bow to her. Nothing personal about it - she is a person just like me, and probably a nice one too, but not a natural superior. And since I'm not a top politician like Jeremy Corbyn, just a petty pinko activist, I don't need to care about my image.

I see the monarchy as a remnant of feudal society that has survived its historical role - that goes for the British monarchy as well as the Norwegian monarchy. Queen Sonja of Norway is probably a good person, but her title is purely symbolic and a waste of the taxpayers' money. I think the Queen of the UK is worse - agan, nothing personal - but the state she represents has, historically, been responsible for colonial atrocities in India, Ireland, Africa, Australia and so on. With that in mind, I don't want to bow to the Queen just to be nice, since respect is something that should be earned.