The caliphate of Elizabeth Regina

LOS ANGELES: This is with reference to Arshad Zaman’s article “The caliphate of Elizabeth Regina” (July 16). I’m grateful to Arshad Zaman for his elaborate explanations based on erudite research. But I am sorry to say that he has not been able to establish how the queen is relevant in ecclesiastical and temporal affairs of England today. True, monarchy in England is wrapped up in numerous age-old ceremonial trappings.

But it is well-established that the queen and the royal household is more of a tourist attraction and a nominal symbol of nationhood rather than an institution wielding any authority in the affairs of state. Mr Zaman should elaborate about whether the queen can act without the advice of prime minister in any matter. His research is the study of archival materials which exist by way of a tradition having no bearing on the functions of the British parliament.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2010.