THREE CHEERS...

FOR Queen Elizabeth whose opening speech at the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Australia, defended the organisation of which she is Head from recent criticisms, while acknowledging that some reforms might be necessary to bring “new vibrancy”. She herself has set an example by agreeing to long overdue proposals for the succession rules of the monarchy to enable the first born child of an heir to the Throne to succeed whether a girl or a boy, and to permit any member of the royal family to marry a Roman Catholic.