This whole respect for royalty thing is or, in the case of the Saudis, should be regarded as an anachronism we as a people jettisoned in 1776.

When, as a kid growing up as an American in England, I went with my mother to “see” the Queen who was coming through a little town near us I was admonished that as an “ambassador for my Country” (a heavy burden for a ten year old by the way) that I was not to look directly at Her Majesty. What? Didn’t we come here to see her?

Needless to say, I boldly stared and even took a photo as she passed even as the crowd stared at its’ feet. I was surprised to see an old Brit next to me looking on as well. He looked at me and I looked at him and then he went on a 5 minute rant about the ridiculous royalty thing! Unforgettable old coot. He should have been an American.