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Queen Elizabeth might have given a subtle nod to the EU with her hat

We see what you did there.

queen Queen Elizabeth II reading the speech in the House of Lords for the State Opening of the UK Parliament Carl Court / PA Wire/PA Images Carl Court / PA Wire/PA Images / PA Wire/PA Images

Updated 1.30pm

UK PRIME MINISTER Theresa May has presented eight draft laws to take Britain out of the European Union in a legislative programme read out in parliament by Queen Elizabeth II.

The laws include the Great Repeal Bill to overhaul existing EU legislation and separate bills on customs, trade, immigration, fisheries and agriculture.

The queen said the Great Repeal Bill would repeal the European Communities Act, the 1972 legislation that enshrined Britain’s membership of the European bloc.

“My government’s priority is to secure the best possible deal as the country leaves the European Union,” the queen said in the speech.

She said her government would seek “to build the widest possible consensus on the country’s future outside the European Union”, amid divisions within her own cabinet over the best strategy.

Britain voted to leave the European Union in a referendum last year but there is growing opposition to the government’s “hard Brexit” approach of cutting immigration at the expense of trade ties.

The queen wore a blue and yellow hat during the speech, with some people thinking it may have been a subtle not to the EU flag.

Duke of Edinburgh

Earlier, it emerged that the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, would miss today’s speech after being taken to hospital.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said he was taken to hospital as a “precautionary measure”.

The infection arose from “a pre-existing condition”, the palace said. The Duke of Edinburgh, who is to retire from public duties later this year, was admitted to hospital last night.

State Opening of Parliament 2015 Ben Stansall / PA Wire Ben Stansall / PA Wire / PA Wire

“Prince Philip is in good spirits and is disappointed to be missing the State Opening of Parliament and Royal Ascot.

“The Prince of Wales will accompany The Queen to the State Opening,” the statement said.

Philip, who turned 96 on 10 June, is the longest-serving consort in British history, and conducted 219 royal engagements last year.

He has been ever-present at his wife’s side since she took the throne in 1952.

He will attend all previously scheduled engagements up until the autumn, and will then take a back seat from royal engagements.

The speech is usually a high point of British pomp and pageantry, but this year there was no horse-drawn carriage procession, crown or ceremonial robes.

With reporting by Paul Hosford and Órla Ryan

Read: Britain gets ready for the Queen’s speech – but there’s still no deal with the DUP

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:12 AM

    I thibk that the British expect too much from the Queen and Prince Philip, let them retire gracefully and get Charles to do these state events.

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:27 AM

    @Chris Kirk: Significantly, the British never advise us on our head of government, President etc¡

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    Mute abcyz
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:40 AM

    @Peter Cavey: What u upset about?

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:08 PM

    @Paul Foot: Who is the ‘US’ you refer to…Libyans, Iraqis, Afganistan all have been influenced by the British military over the past couple of decades….

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:34 PM

    @Chris Kirk: Us – the Irish. However, blokes like you are great to have, advising on other countries’ Soverigns, governments, Trim, Brexit etc¡¡¡

    Anything in fact…¿¿¿

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:40 PM

    @Paul Foot: Trump*

    4
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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Jun 21st 2017, 3:46 PM

    @Paul Foot: the Queen, it seems, is happy to do it.

    She is a fierce believer in finishing out her duties and die as the Queen.

    11
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 5:10 PM

    @Paul Foot: Did you think that I am Irish, I might live here but that is all…

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 7:05 PM

    @Chris Kirk: Anyone who thinks the Queen writes the Queen’s Speech is mentally challenged – I admit. My best guess is that you live in either a Home for the Bewildered or a zoo, with your fellow muppets…

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 10:28 PM

    @Paul Foot: Do not assume that you know me, just cop yourself on lad and have some manners….

    3
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 2:07 AM

    @Chris Kirk: There is a belief of some seer now that the UK will end up with a big mishap when this Queen dies, Paddy Power will be busy now then lol.

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    Mute Mark Mc Donnell
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:08 AM

    Why should we care again?

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Mark Mc Donnell: EII is the Monarch of your country¡

    31
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    Mute Mark Mc Donnell
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:27 AM

    Bullshit

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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:28 AM

    Paul Foot. Troll.

    61
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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:28 AM

    @Mark Mc Donnell: Australia – yes m8¡

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    Mute Niall Finnegan
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:46 AM

    @Paul Foot: Junk

    25
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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:51 AM

    @Niall Finnegan: Elizabeth II is Australia’s Monarch. Google is your friend¡¡¡

    32
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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:35 PM

    @Mark Mc Donnell: She’s your monarch, she’s on your $5 note, and her flag is on your flag. Learn your history.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 25th 2017, 2:12 AM

    @Mark Mc Donnell: Because she is reading Jackanory lol.

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:07 AM

    Get well soon – HRH

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    Mute abcyz
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:12 AM

    @Paul Foot: Did he do this at the ruby jubilee? Faking illness to avoid ceremonies?

    30
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:59 AM

    @abcyz: ya sounds familiar. I’d do the same, banged up in all your regalia in 35° heat all day long ? Chuck a sicky an hit the sherry for the day

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 21st 2017, 3:43 PM

    @abcyz: he’s 96 FFS!

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    Mute Jamie
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    Jun 21st 2017, 5:33 PM

    @Eugene Walsh: how often do you dress up in your regalia

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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Jun 21st 2017, 8:10 PM

    @Jamie: Only when the wife is out of the house .

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    Mute Thaddus T Sawballs
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:07 AM

    How long s he married
    He s heard enough of her by now.
    Now he ll hear a sweet young nurse

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:10 AM

    @Thaddus T Sawballs: He can spell though, TT…

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    Mute abcyz
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:13 AM

    Are they cousins?

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:33 AM

    Royals inbreed with their own! The family tree is more of a knotted wreath.

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    Mute Ariana
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:43 AM

    @abcyz: Cousins in more than one way.

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:51 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: according to David Icke theyre reptilians.

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    Mute Sarah M
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:27 PM

    @Ariana: Saw a doc once and it said (if memory serves) that they were Third and Fourth cousins. Third = common great great grandparent.

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    Mute Eamon
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:46 AM

    Phil is a nazi sympathiser

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:49 AM

    @Eamon: link/evidence?

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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:57 AM
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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 12:15 PM

    @Eamon: A Nazi because he attended his sister’s funeral in Germany, over 80 years ago!? My brother-in-law is a Catholic priest – and I never go near a church¡¡¡

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Jun 21st 2017, 12:32 PM

    @Paul Foot: I suppose there’s no point mentioning that he fought the nazis/ axis forces in WW2?

    55
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    Mute Ted Murray
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:58 PM

    @Eamon: __ The irony of the Daily Mail digging up someone’s “Nazi” past.

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    Mute ads2⃣️0⃣️1⃣️0⃣️1⃣️
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    Jun 21st 2017, 9:57 PM

    @Eamon:
    The daily mail – not quite the bastion of truth IMHO

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:49 AM

    The photo of Arlene Foster reminds me of the coverage of the official letter written my Arlene Foster to the Scottish Government in 2015 asking it not to extend same sex civil marriage to couoples from Northern Ireland.

    I would not think of Ms Foster as especially well disposed to people who happened to be gay and in relationships.

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:54 AM

    @Tony Daly: shes an evil old witch,

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 21st 2017, 12:00 PM

    @Slim Browne: for sure she is and that is a perfect description of her.

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    Mute Pat Butler
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:10 AM

    The heat at Ascot obviously got to him

    32
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    Mute alphanautica
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:42 PM

    It’s a pro-Brexit hat foretelling the reduction of the EU to five member states.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 2:04 AM

    @alphanautica: And her knickers?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 2:08 AM

    @alphanautica: And her dress has a Paisley pattern to it lol.

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    Mute Thaddus T Sawballs
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    Jun 21st 2017, 12:49 PM

    Ireland has a few queens here as well

    22
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    Mute Dante Marquinhos
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:34 PM

    Two articles on the royals today and still no correction on the deportation nonsense article that was posted last night?

    Definitely an agenda at play here.

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:40 PM

    @Dante Marquinhos: Deportation? From where¿

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    Mute Dante Marquinhos
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:46 PM

    @Paul Foot: The Journal are trying to claim that John Cunningham is a victim of Trump’s immigration policy. In fact John Cunningham was detained over theft of a cheque and not appearing in court to face the charge. Basically the whole article they posted is nonsense.

    http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/irish-man-detained-for-deportation-from-us-wanted-over-1300-cheque-theft-35849092.html

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    Mute Matt F
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    Jun 21st 2017, 12:51 PM

    Pretty sure that is Vigo from Ghostbusters 2 sitting next to Queen Elizabeth

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    Mute Ted Murray
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    Jun 21st 2017, 4:09 PM

    She’s probably not looking forward to having to stand in the non-EU queue when she gets off her Ryanair flight to visit her relatives on mainland Europe.

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    Mute Eamon
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:45 AM

    Who cares

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:03 PM

    @Eamon: you do. Because people who actually don’t care just move along quietly.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:13 PM

    Two things which struck a cord in the Queens speach: The Queen refered to a ‘deal’ with the EU rather than May’s ‘no deal is better than a bad deal.
    The Queen made no reference to the pending state visit by Donald Trump. A signal perhaps that the Queen doesn’t intend meeting him.

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:39 PM

    @Chris Kirk: The Queen does not write the Queen’s Speech; her government does!

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 5:13 PM

    @Paul Foot: Really….!!

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 5:18 PM

    @Paul Foot: Do you think that the Queen is just a puppet, how many governments have come and gone during the Queen’s sixty four year reign.
    The Queen may not exactly write her own speeches, but the words do come out of her mouth….

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 6:01 PM

    @Chris Kirk: That’s because she reads it m8…you arch muppet…

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 7:27 PM

    @Chris Kirk: Apologies to the muppets of the world – it was very harsh to bracket them in with Kirk; his spontaneous ignorance is a daily feature of this site and is impossible to compare his delusions with any creatures – human, religious or robotic. Sorry Kirk – I hope there is treatment for your online insanity sport…o/

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 10:32 PM

    @Paul Foot: Does yoy mother know you are using the internet and insulting your betters….

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    Mute Fank Pulman
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:07 PM

    @Chris Kirk: Does your Ma write your posts…\°/… Please learn m8 before it’s too late; her majesty doesn’t wrire the Queen’s Speech – only reads it. I hope you can comprehend that…somehow I doubt it…

    3
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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:51 PM

    Not so subtle of QEU2. Note it’s a nod to chancellor Philip Hammond, who’s tipped to be the strong and stable hand that May could not be.

    And then after 2yrs of talk the UK will be getting out of the EU but stay in the single market. And then people will be wondering what the F all the fuss was about, and there’ll be a small chance they’d vote to remain in a 2nd referendum.

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    Mute Paul Foot
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    Jun 21st 2017, 1:57 PM

    @Mick Tobin: There will be no 2nd referendum.

    Brexit means Brexit!

    All we can do is look on from the sidelines – and hope that we’re not too badly affected.

    10
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    Mute Jonathan Mills
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    Jun 21st 2017, 5:02 PM

    Brexit means Brexit; We’re glad you mean what you say, not quite so sure that you know what you mean, and we mean to wish you the best with it all, even though we’re absolutely sure that it means you’re utterly screwed.

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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Jun 21st 2017, 11:59 AM

    I read somewhere that he is a reptile

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 21st 2017, 2:16 PM

    @Government Sachs: A plant perhaps….

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 2:03 AM

    But she wore 5 and not 12 stars??? So what does that mean lol.

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    Mute baronfred
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    Jun 22nd 2017, 8:16 PM

    @Alois Irlmaier: NI, England, Scotland, Wales and Gibraltar?…

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jun 25th 2017, 2:11 AM

    @baronfred: Would they not be the horns then rather than stars lol.

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