What's with The Day's snide kvetching about our interest in the British royal family, "The enduring royal pain of Prince Charles," (Feb. 4)? While the editors probably don't think it odd that Americans of other cultural descent demonstrate curiosity about and pride in their countries of origin, it is apparently perverse for those of English ancestry to do so.

And why does the paper sarcastically suggest it's high time for Queen Elizabeth II to abdicate in favor of her son? She is still active and engaged, and has more than lived up to the promise she made to her future subjects on her 21st birthday, that "my life, whether it be long or short, shall be dedicated to your service and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

That was no mere speech. The young princess who delivered it has kept that promise as a queen, and in over 60 years of service has never wavered from her duty to her people.

As for Prince Charles and Sweyn Forkbeard, Charles is more likely to follow the pattern of his great-great grandfather, Edward VII, who reigned for a respectable nine years following the death of his elderly "mum," Queen Victoria.