Does the Queen have any say in what she does or who she has to meet or dine with? What would happen if she stamped her foot and said I won't do that?
Is there anyone who could force her to do something?
Yes I think she can Caran. When she visited Eire I shouldn't imagine she was keen on shaking hands with people who may have had something to do with blowing up her husband's uncle.
If she really didn't want to meet someone she could say she was ill and have Charles attend in her place. But she's got her head screwed on and knows that unpalatable meetings, with former IRA leader Martin McGuinness for example, can lead to good outcomes.
Her days are planned for her and she has no choice when it comes to the political side of her life. She is still allowed a private life, however, but even in this aspect she is expected to be a paragon of the virtues and to behave in a way that will provide an example for her country. Pity her children and grandchildren have not done the same. If she has done anything out of the ordinary it has certainly been kept very quiet. This is the reason I never envy her. At least I can lead my own life in my own way.
George V [ uncharacteristically ] said he didnt want to sign a treaty with his cousins' murderers and so the Prime minister said Oh that is OK I will do it and that is why the PM signs treaties now and not the monarch
whoops !