Robert Marquand | The Christian Science Monitor

It’s the other big boat story this week: Does Queen Elizabeth need or deserve a new royal yacht to mark her 60th year on the throne?

Reports that a British government official proposed that the royal yacht for Queen Elizabeth be funded with public money have stirred up anger in a time of austerity.

Queen Elizabeth is still going strong in her Diamond Jubilee year, and has achieved a singular level of popularity among ordinary Brits that is helping the monarchy and the damaged reputation of the royal family, says Nick Spencer of Theos, a public theology think tank.

“But this is very badly timed,” says Mr. Spencer.

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