Is this St Andrews second year the biggest young royalist in the UK?

Most of us probably didn’t celebrate too much today as Liz became the longest reigning monarch in British history, but there are some young royalists out there who live and breathe for the love of Her Maj.

And St. Andrews second year Marcus Buist is probably the biggest of them all. With emotion to rival that bit in The King’s Speech, he says: “Love is just not quite the emotion for someone I’ve never met, but in a refreshingly old fashioned way, HM’s loyal willingness to serve others, and to remain quiet demands respect. The monarchy saves us from the presidential election, the Donald Trumps of this world. She has experience above that of any politician, her first prime minister having been Churchill so many years ago, and, unlike any politician, she can always put the country before party politics.

“It is because our head of state, a revered person, is not democratically elected that allows us to distinguish between position and politics. No “Yes, Mr President” for our politicians, we can hold them in check with health suspicion. Above the Queen, I love the monarchy. Britain cannot ever be a republic while still being British, and any attempt to be radical republic would not only leave us a late entry into that kind of state, but would inevitably be naff. So from the builders of Essex, the squires of Shropshire, and the bank clerks and lawyers of Edinburgh we are brought together in one loud acclaim ‘God, save the Queen’.”

Behind the powerful speech, 21-year-old Marcus reveals he wasn’t always such an ardent royalist. In fact, when he first became interested in politics he describes himself as a “Europhile Republican”. But now his nationalism fits in at St Andrew’s. “It’s part of our sense of Britishness for all of my friends, whether they are Scottish like me, or English or Northern Irish. There’s no great republicanism at St Andrews.”

“My family feel similar too, but in more moderate form, and in any case, their politics is quite different from mine. I developed my own ideas and attachments in something of a bubble, so I couldn’t say I had been ‘taught’ to love HM. My father’s parents are definitely republicans, and old school social democrats, not that the two are necessarily linked.”

But not all of Marcus’ friends share his staunch beliefs. Bristol student Edmund Wise, Marcus’ best friend since studying with him at prestigious Glenalmond College, has little love for the royal family.

He said: “I think it’s a load of bollocks – the Queen is a dusty relic of an exploitative, unaccountable feudal system. Considering that she’ll be most remembered for doing nothing, I see no reason why anyone should love her or even respect her. Her family are an odd mixture of cowards, eco-warriors and luxurious pedo-loving layabouts who inherit great chunks of British land and authority, and yet they have little power. There’s little evidence to suggest they do anything for tourism that the Palace of Versailles does not.

“She’s a pointless woman from a pathetic family of populist, posturing rich shits.”

Unlike some of us, Ancient History student Marcus thinks it’s ridiculous to see the monarchy as anachronistic. He says: “When people argue ‘this is the 21st Century’ it’s usually a pretty meaningless claim.”

For him, royalism isn’t just modern, but it’s part of his every day life. His friends sing God Save the Queen as part of every good night out and he even takes part in society events to celebrate the monarchy. He also occasionally campaigns for the Conservative party and has volunteered as a teacher in Africa.

“I think we are all very proud to think of ourselves as ‘one people'”, says Marcus. “And for myself, and without meaning to offend, I can’t see the Southern Irish as foreign. Not when we share the same sense of humour, political instincts, diet and healthy appreciation of a solid booze up.”

The Historian says he doesn’t want to be seen as a “stuffy reactionary”, but won’t let other people’s opinions stop him from celebrating today.

“Whatever people think of me, I’ll be having a good few G&Ts to celebrate her reign. Just a pity I am not in beautiful St Andrews to do it with friends.”