What! Not only are the poor little blighters frequently exposed to the falsehoods of dead religions, they would now have to swear allegiance to an unelected remnant of ancient tyranny, the Monarchy! We chopped a king's head off here to achieve our modern liberties. Maybe they should swear allegiance to the memoryof Tom Paine instead? That is a truer acknowledgement of what it means to be British.

Paul Freeman, London, England

Allegiance to the queen? NO
what would happen if someone refused???
1 to 100 months in prison or community work??
do what I say , or we get the whip out
Dictator state this country will be
Freedom to worship GONE
Basic freedom non existant
NO TO ALLEGIANCE TO ANYTHING UNLESS WE CHOOSE OURSELVES!!!!!

Derek, Grimsby, Lincolnshie

I think Her Majesty the Queen is absolutely marvellous. I'd like to pledge allegiance to her now. Rule Britannia!

Edwarde Sanspoisson, Normandy, France

I don't recognise the Queen's authority - I am subject to no one other than God.

I was born in the UK, but I did not ask to be British. Don't get me wrong I've benefitted greatly from this, but nations are a social construct that hold great power and can sometimes demand idolotous worship.

You only need to look at the way those from the US worship their nation over and above everything else to see where this can lead you.

This proposal is frightening and my children will be encouraged to do as their conscience guides them if they ever have to attend a ceremony like this.

Good citizenship of the world does not require alligence to Queen or country, but rather to humanity, justice, peace and mercy.

A James, Halifax, UK

Can Catholics, in good faith, pledge allegiance to a Protestant monarch? I can't see Pope Benedict sitting still for this one...

Daniel Howells, Manchester,

I think that Goldsmith is right. We should not forget that we are Royal Subjects not citizens. The very idea of citizenship is a nonsense in the British tradition. We have drifted into our current mess because we have fudged such basic ideas and watered down the nature of the Authority that underpins Great Britian. We should introduce this oath of allegiance as soon as possible. I hope that this is the start of a very needed fightback for everything that is good about loyalism.

Ross Warren, Swindon, Wilts

As we are no longer subjects of the Queen, but citizens of our country, it follows that we should swear allegiance to country, not Queen.

Brian Champness, Callington, UK

This is ridiculous. The British have always worn their patriotism lightly - we don't salute the flag, or swear oaths of allegiance. The whole idea is un-British.

In any case, it should work the other way round. The government is the servant of the people, there should be no need for us to swear allegiance to any government representative.

Philip Clark, Fleet,

This would be the same Goldsmith who deemed the second Iraq war legal?

Dave Foulkes, Dorking, Surrey

If you have to mouth a few words to affirm that you are British, then you are not. I can think of few things more un-British than this ridiculous charade. It may be acceptable in new countries or dictatorships but not in a mature democracy. If you are British, you know it. If you need cajoling, you are not.

John Naylor, London, England

How on earth have we descended to this madness?
In my fifty something years on this planet I have seen significant changes in culture and social structure and wholesale shifts in behaviour and attitudes.
Whereas previously we were a society that valued politeness, good manners and gave respect, we have "developed" into a foul mouthed, disrespectful, ignorant, selfish society with no moral values, no cultural worth or true identity.
So how did we let this happen to our country? We've allowed the socially inept, the politically driven, the hapless doo-gooders, the libertines, the perverted and the criminals to gain the upper hand. They walk all over our "traditional" tolerance and laid-back approach, they exploit our lack of national pride, they sneer at any attempt to instil morals and virtue and good common sense into our children, as refer to it as the "Orwellian Big Brother" society. We need a rallying call, we need something to put the GREAT back into Britain. Salute your Flag

Andrew Garcarz, Birmingham, England

This problem would not even need to be discussed if the politicians would face facts and recognise the problem is muslim immigration. Pay the muslims to leave and Britain will become a better place overnight. Lower cime and terrorism levels - greater social cohesion amongst those that are willing to live together.

greg, St Helens,

i think it is disgusting to consider making children swear to something they have little or no concept of and forcing children to do " citizenship" lessons is beyond belief .

my children know they are british and can decide for themselves when old enough whether they choose to swear , also they can choose to support the monarchy or not .

my children will not swear unless they choose to as for myself i have little faith in these government plans

alison wells, croydon, england

Well this was always going to bring out the malcontents, anti-royalists, whingers and nutters.

As a soldier I took an oath of allegiance to the Queen - and meant it.

What do the naysayers want?
A President?
A GW Bush??
A Tony Blair??
Who?

But that’s not the point. How we feel about being British is what we are. We are not American. We do not need the hand-on-heart, flag waving, fanfare playing exhibitions of patriotism. How can Americans do this while watching their Constitution being shredded by a Neocon President who says torture is OK?

This failed government needs to stop the transatlantic gimmickry and concentrate on running the country so that we all see achievement, success, fairness, law & order, security, economic growth, regard for the environment and shining examples of total openness and honesty from our public servants.

Now that would make me be proud to be British. No oaths – no citizenship lessons - just quiet pride in my country.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Exactly what is our monarch sovereign of?
Our kingdom has gone, under the watch of the present Queen.
One week we are 'citizens' in a multi-cultural myth, the next we are 'subjects' in a vanquished land.
I am beginning to feel like Shroedinger's Cat!
Surely an oath under co-ercion is null?

L Crofton, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire

Appalling idea. Britain is a country that respects freedom of speech and freedom of thought. That includes (or should include) the freedom to believe that the Monarchy should be replaced by an elected head of state - and not to have to swear allegiance to something you don't believe in.

I am a British citizen and at no time have I, or will I, ever swear allegiance to the Monarch. I will happily swear to uphold the laws and customs of Britain and will never act against it's interests - but there it ends.

Nathan, Aberdeen,

My grandchildren are ENGLISH, and they go to schools full of European immigrant children whose loyalties are to their own countries. Bearing in mind that their countries have their own parliaments (not unlike Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland), they have Constitutions and Bills of Rights (unlike the English and the British in general) and which they were allowed to vote on. Just who does this "Head-up-its-own-Backside" government think its is going to get to Swear Allegiance to a Union of disparate Countries governed mainly by a cabinet of people who are foreigners to the English (the Jockanese Cabinet Mafia) who go home to a different set of rules to those they compel us to live to?

Hereticus, Thetford, ENGLAND

Superb - about time people had to swear an oath as SUBJECTS - none of this take everything from the Kingdom but refuse to give anything back.
To swear fealty and service to the crown is excellent - but not to the inane and crooked governments we have had these last few years. Petty elected officials don't deserve loyalty.
This would be a good time to sack those teachers refusing to administer the oath - we've had enough of the champagne socialists in the teaching profession trying to undermine all that is good in Great Britain.
This could be one of the first good ideas ever introduced by New Labour.

Andrew, London, GB

I am an American living in London. Throughout my school years we began every day with either Psalm 23 or the Lord's Prayer plus the Pledge. Most of us understood the prayers, but the Pledge posed problems. I always thought that 'one nation under God indivisible' meant that God was ivisible and that 'with liberty and justice for all' meant all white people. The Pledge was largely rote and meant mainly that we were glad to live a country where we weren't persecuted. There's nothing wrong with being reminded of basic shared values.

Joseph, London, UK

Swear an oath to Queen Elizabeth II, when she refuses to reciprocate her coronation to uphold the (English) Magna Carta? (Sovereign authority for Act Union / Settlement)
In 2003, my children were abducted to the USA, contrary to 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. My right to a fair trial deferred to biased US court. The US Court of Appeals vacated Federal arbitrary (nationalistically biased) judgement, demanding further a timely motion for New Trial asserting IGNORRED evidence. QE2 WHEN IS MY FAIR TRIAL? [ I assert Virginian Lex-Loci recognition of English habitual residence law, State-law trumps federal law SUPREMACY CLAUSE by treaty.] The US Supreme Court refuses to act on my A4 filings (despite treaty). QE2 WHY AM I DENIED FAIR TRIAL BY PAPER SIZE?
I have proven the USA dishonours treaties. US based NATO is defunct. We need a US of Europe, and to void all US treaties - ending aid Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Kids my oath is a 1642 standard, civil war style !

nilly, swindon, england

No way will any kids of mine will be swearing allegiance to this queen, or any other tin-pot dictator. Why are these people still allowed to Lord it over the rest of us? Time she moved to a smaller council house methinks and took her ill-bred brood with her, .... long past time.

John Sinclair, Dundee, UK

Rubbish, my grandchildren ARE British and know they are, they dont need to make any allegiance. As to citizenship lessons that should read indoctrination, a lot of propaganda. My grandaughter was told when this lesson was introduced at her school that there was no right or wrong answers to any of the topics discussed, that everyones view carried equal weight, everything was open to discussion. My grandaughter expressed an opinion at odds with the teacher and was informedf that she was wrong, the teacher was right. My grandaughter reminded the teacher that everything was open to discussion and there was no right or wrong answers. Because citizenship is not compulsory as a GCE subject my grandaughter now sits in the lesson but refuses to take part and works instead at the subjects she will be taking as GCEs in two years. I am informed that the majority of 14 year olds in this class view it as a complete waste of time. Out of the mouths of babes springs to mind.

Patricia Kenny, Bradford, UK

I have no problem with my children swearing an allegiance to the flag but I refuse to let my children swear allegiance to an unelected head of state.
About time we shifted our democracy in the 21st century.

Andrew Gaskell, Milton Keynes, UK

Perhaps the British people should be requiring the Queen to swear an oath to the British people, To England, the Magna Carta, etc... because as she seems to be planning on betraying your country by signing off on selling out your rights and freedoms, your national sovreignty this spring.. well, I'd say there's more disloyalty on her part, than on the part of little children.

Jenny, Grand Rapids, MI, US

I am sure such an idea will hasten the end of our ridiculous system whereby the head of state inherits the position for life. If that is the case I welcome any such move.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

I am a lifelong Labour supporter but am disgusted at the way Gordon Brown seems determined to make us as American as possible. First he wanted flags in gardens and a written constitution. I have long predicted that this would lead to a requirement for children to salute the flag: an oath of loyalty amounts to the same thing.

Brown seems very insensitive to laid-back English attitudes, and I suppose this is either because he is a Scot or because he has no feel for the delicate nature of the self-deprecating style which we all prefer. He is trying to tear this apart, and I can only hope that we English will stick together and refuse to let Brown damage our quiet confidence.

E Smith, Hounslow, UK

Yet more evidence that the present administration has no sane sense of priorities and no grasp whatsoever of cause and effect.

James E. Petts, Burnham, England

"Leo Jones, Ashford, Kent" caught the point perfectly.

Marco, Venice,

I can't see this idea going down too well west of Offa's Dyke.

Gill, Pwllheli, Cymru

Surely one has to be over 18 to take an oath?

Joan, Rome, Italy

All well and good getting people children and immigrants to swear oaths but unless the government starts making some hard decisions and tacking the real problems that affect this country then it won’t make a blind bit of difference. Lets hear some sensible policys on how they intend to solve these problems, and when we have an amazing education system, a efficient heath service and trust worthy government national pride will follow.

James Cornish, Lancaster University, Lancashire

So British children should swear allegiance to a German and a Greek - good thinking!

Mariam, Brighton,

With 63000000 plus British people, why is the Queen considered any more British than anyone else ???

She is not elected and as such I would positively ask my children NOT to swear this oath. I'd be happy for them to swear to abide by the law and uphold the values of OUR great nation....not the Queen's !!!

Clare, Leicestershire, UK

"the plan is designed to help immigrants and citizens develop a “shared sense of belonging”.

Having read the above statements most of which are hostile to the country & its institutions. No wonder London is called Londinistan and soon GB will be GBistan.

Eric, Camon, France

The pledge should be to our country or constitution ( if we had one ) not to an unelected unaccountable quango, who epitimize greed and create a class structure. We would benefit from people at the top who could genuinely command our respect but the monarchy that evolved by force , torture and bloodshed still appear to have low moral standards and in my opinion are greedy and sleezy They still rule firstly by coercion by proxy( the majority seem to be afraid of upsetting them) , and also by direct and indirect influence through their network of wealthy friends and allies , politicians, bankers landowners etc. when the palace tells the local authorities to send the schools out to line the routes of a Royal visit the parents are not consulted, or given a chance to object , many parents are afraid to object in case their child is ostracized in some form Every social change benefiting the working clases in this country has been dispite the monarchy not because of.

S Campbell, Cardiff, U.K.

Well it would have one advantage in that it would show immigrants from central and eastern europe that as long as their ancestors were more efficient killers than the average that they can achieve anything.

What utter tripe. Britishness is actually about the ability to tolerate fairytale nonsense like the monarchy as long as it keeps the morons out of the way of people who want to live in the real world and the current time. I would happily swear to uphold the laws of my country and its elected properly elected government but would not ever swear allegiance to that bunch of overstuffed nincompoops.

Ian, Farnborough, UK

This is forcing people to commit to a monarch who has no real involvment in the day to day living of the average citizen. Religious sects may also be opposed to this , as they believe their God is the only individual to which an "oath of allegiance" should be sworn. The chances of this effecting society in the least is very slim, as young children do not recognise what it is to make an oath. If this is a replacment to corpral punishment Lord Goldsmith has missed the mark by a very large margin!

Nathan, Sheffield,

Conjures up images of flag waving children in N Korea.

AR , birmingham,

Why are we spending our time discussing the idea of 'swearing an oath to the Queen'? If we continue along this path very soon our school children will be even more confused 'swearing an allegiance' to the Prince of Wales KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, PC, ADC, the Earl of Chester, the Duke of Cornwall, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. Will this help them understand the meaning of being British and a shared sense of belonging?.

Roger Norton, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

I would have refused to do this as a child and, if the idea is adopted, will encourage and support any children or teachers who refuse to take part in so absurd a practice. I have always considered public pledges of allegiance more suitable to totalitarian states. As for Britishness, this country has a fine history of Republicanism. We celebrate the 400th anniversary of John Milton's birth this year. I wonder what that great republican poet would make of his country now.

kath bell, Nottingham , England

In the real world away from the fantasy of media circles and royal propaganda the majority of the British public are either anti-royal or apathetic to their anti-democratic antics. If this 'swearing in' idea were to be adopted throughout the nation's schools it would be just the 'poke in the ribs' required to wake up the public into understanding just what an outdated nonsense the royal family and all their baggage are...

Bring it on and let us have a modern 21st Century democracy and elected Head of State.

JCA, York, Britain.

Teaching children to swear...?

Mohammed, London, UK

My kids are republican and always will be. No one should inherit power & privellege by the accident of birth. It should come through hard work.

kevin, Lincoln, UK

I have a confession to make... When I became a Guider, I changed my Guiding promise to leave out the bit about the Queen (I said "to serve my country with honour" instead of "to serve the Queen and my country"). I still refuse to sing the National Anthem at events.

My views on the monarchy have been concrete since I was a child - none of them were chosen and have a lot of money simply by an accident of birth, and while adults asked for my reasoning, none forced me to do something I didn't believe in. To implement something like this interferes with a young person's development of social justice.

If they are taught it is OK for someone to have a lot of money while others have none by so-called 'birthright', they might start thinking crazier things, like it is OK for footballers to earn more money for kicking a bag of wind around than nurses who give their all to saving lives.

So I'm proud to be a non-monarchist, non-Christian Guider. I suddenly feel quite naughty!

Alison Lucas, Blackpool, UK

This is a deeply disturbing suggestion, and I see Republic has already pledged to oppose it and encourage non-cooperation if this stupid idea goes ahead.

The idea that swearing allegiance to the Queen will improve national identity or a better understanding of being 'British' is offensive as well as wrong-headed. Are they implying republicans are less British? What utter nonsense

Paul Smith, Brighton,

At least its a start. In a country which doesn't have any pride anymore. Its kids,of which many can't read properly, speak properley, have no respect for anything or anybody.The worst crime rate in western Europe{This once was the lowest} grim pictures of drug taking {UN report} no hope girls producing no hope children .{Worst in western Europe}Hotbed of terrorism Training and affiliates .U.S. Children do know what they are reciting and also informed/and learn in daily life what America stands for. British immigrants arriving hear In Australia tell a very different story about Britain when you get down to basics and speak to them more privately. Its not just the platitude of "its a better life,sun sand and beach"More like "I don't feel I belong there anymore,Its overcrowded.!!Too much crime, Big brother etc etc. There plenty of other ways to instill in the kids a sense of belonging and identity. if you hate the idea of swearing allegiance to the queen. what about the flag? O horror!!

Hugh Dickinson, huonville, Tasmania

Has anyone else noticed that this "new" plan resembles the Scout and Guide promise - over half a million young people already make this promise / pledge when they join these voluntary youth movements !

Andrew Watson, Sheffield, England

You all miss the point, it is not about the Queen. If we became a republic we would swear allegiance to the constitution/president/flag, as a constitutional monarchy we do it to the Queen. By doing so all you are doing is promising to obey the law. The law includes the right to free speech and thought and fully allows you to be a republican, as long as you do so within the law. That is the whole point of a constitutional monarchy, you can be loyal to the Queen as ceremonial head of state but still have every intention of replacing her with a president. Those childish people who say they disagree with monarchy so cant be loyal to the Queen, what will they do with a president they did not vote for? Will they say that as Labour voters a Conservative President is not theirs and the laws he/she signs do not apply to them? The proposals for school children to have a citizenship ceremony are a good idea, why should immigrants have to swear to obey our laws whilst children born here do not?

Leo Jones, Ashford, Kent

I would be horrified if my children were expected to do this. I have never supported the Royal Family nor encouraged my sons to.

Penny Richardson, Towcester, UK

This has nothing to do with the person of the Queen of course - it is simply a symbolic gesture of allegiance to the country whose passport you hold. It could equally have been the flag - the symbol is irrelevant but the meaning is clear. Attitudes have changed immensely in the last 50 years, it can no longer be assumed that a passport holder automatically understands that while there are rights attendant if that is the word on having a particular passport there are also duties - not shrill nationalism as some posters have it but more basic and common sense expectations. If for example you allowed people to live in your house you would expect them not to be hostile to you or to to harm you. This is basic common sense.

Bob T, London, UK

At least it might teach some respect if that it what it takes lets get on with I would do it even now after a lifetime of rubbish politicians and people who believe in nothing but rebelling.

matilda, dorchester,

Get real labour and that applies to just about every policy you're churning out at the last minute! Britain's a mess already and you're making it even worse.

iris, bolton, uk

Let's turn our children in to the sort of people who will mindlessly pledge their allegiance to an un-elected head of state simply because someone in a position of authority over them (teachers) tells them to do so regardless of whether they have any comprehension of what they're donig! What could possibly go wrong?

George, Poole,

Why? She is only a puppet of the government. But swearing an oath to the government smacks of communism, which is what "Velcro Brown" wants

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

The Labour party are collectively going mad.

Jim O' Sullivan, Sligo, Ireland

If anyone had tried to make me pledge allegiance to Queen and Country as a child, I would have point blank refused, as I'm pretty sure most of my friends would have. I did not and do not have any positive affection for the Queen, nor do I believe that swearing to obey the law is a sensible idea. To do so merely enforces the idea that the established order should not be questioned. That is definitely *not* part of being British. I relish living in a country where I am entirely free to say that I do not agree with the monarchy without fear of recrimination.
If my children are ever told to swear allegiance to the Queen, that will be the day I leave Britain for a freer country.

Helen, Loughborough,

not a chance! allegiance to the queen ... what is that supposed to stand for? and worse still - William and Harry ! I think their future should be reviewed. This is yet more Labour rubbish - if we didn't have all of these immigrants then we wouldn't have to teach anybody what being British is.

kelly, coventry,

NOOO! Stop turning this country into the USA! We're already imitating them enough!

Martin, St Andrews,

It`s amazing how the politicians want their *15 minutes of fame * every so often .

Jim, Sidcup/Kent,

This isn't education. This is indoctrination.

Terry, London, UK

What a load of rubbish. Labour are supposed to be mildly republican. What nonsense will the government come up with next?

Richard, Bexhill, UK

Vive La Republique

Neill, maidstone, UK

I would never have done this as a child. I remember the English national anthem being played at the cinema and although I would stand up I refused to sing along.

Even now, when I grudgingly have to admit that the Queen is quite good at what she does (heaven forbid our head of state is some twit like Bush), I still wouldn't swear allegiance to the English royal family, being a Welshie myself.

Tina, Duesseldorf, Germany

Does Lord Goldsmith have any plans for children who refuse to take an oath of allegiance to the Queen?

Will they be excluded from school, put in detention or simply made to write out "I love the Queen" a hundred times?

George Junior, Bristol, UK

I grew up in Britain, a convinced republican for as long as I can remember. Surely "what it means to be British" is enjoying the freedom to hold and express such values whatever the system of government.

Mary Debrabant, France,

I don't think swearing allegiances to a monarch is particularly British. It would be better to teach kids about Magna Carta, the common law and how the constitution has always restricted the powers of sovereigns. The powers of the crown exist to uphold the laws that parliament make, she is not some demi God that we have to kneel before.

Mark, Newcastle,

No way!! I am a democrat first and foremost....there is no way I am going to swear allegiance to either a flag or a monarch. I can already hear the Scots scrambling in even greater numbers from the Labour fold.

A true democrat does not need to swear allegiance in such a way: a true democrat is open to discussion, about how democracy, human rights and responsibilities, and social solidarity combine with educated awareness. "Citizenship" is not nationalism nor adherence to a monarchical system. It is responsibility combined with, at best, constructive critical awareness when leaders and other citizens corrupt democratc processes.

Blair, Goldsmith......once you get your citizen acts together, some of us might take you more seriously. The more I hear of these silly ideas the more I am disenchanted with Gordon Brown and New Labour...just Blairite smarmy stuff in other bottles. No child of mine will be indoctrinated like this in any open, critical classroom.!

jennifer conway, copenhagen, Denmark

Please please lets not do this, this is a backward step, abide by the law yes , but an oath of allegience to the Queen what does that actually mean in this day and age. Our culture belief and way of life is not fixed we have the right to help develop and change it in a democracy, this smacks of blind faith in our leaders, and we know where that has taken us in the past.

caropet, Aberdeen, Scotland

Oh well - homeschooling it is then! This is just ridiculous.

Kay, Norfolk,

Fortunately, my children have left school but I would not have allowed them to make an oath of loyalty to an institution I don't believe in. Governments (and institutions) earn loyalty, they can't demand it (that's now probably got me on some government list)

A Leveller, Berkshire,

I think this measure might be useful in helping to foster some sense of identity among English schoolchildren in state education. The measure might be helped by the recently mooted plan to employ former soldiers as teachers.

Of course I wouldn't like to see it implemented north of the border.

Des, Edinburgh,

Yet another silly idea.

Peter Jones, London, UK

How absurd to ask children to do this when it is such a deep and important step to take and not easy even for an adult to make the right choice.

Andrew Chapman, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

It would be a great pity for the British to copy this sign of American "patriotism" (read extreme nationalism -- of which, by the way, the U. S. accuses weak small countries when it finds it useful). Modern man and woman reject (or should reject) this type of obeisance.

T. Y. Chollet, Geneva, CH

A constitutional monarchy within a democracy. What a contradiction. And as for swearing an oath of allegiance to the Queen, give me a break. Would this be a one-off or a daily chore? When Britain stops being one of the bad guys I might start to feel a little more patriotic. Surprised Labour would encourage this, because in/when the revolution comes, it could be Monarchy verses Parliament, again. Now that would be a tough call. Like the 17th Century Civil War when many departed for the New North American Colonies, suspect many would seek their fortune overseas next time around.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

the whole idea is bonkers, smacks of the loyalty oaths demanded of the late leader of the 1000 year Reich. Integration and acceptance need to be enhanced truly, but this is either a simple minded mistake or something far more sinister. Spend scads of money on community social enterprise and education and also get the health care system back on track (for everyone). Given the above three I think people ought to be able to sort out the rest themselves.

rodney, Coombs, Canada

This country is beginning to resmble an enormous concentration camp.

katherine langton, Blackburn, England

As a republican I'm completely against this for philosophical reasons, and as someone who lives in the real world I'm completely against this because I know this won't solve a damn thing.

All the money the State takes and this is its output; ideas which would could be thought up by any reasonable person, and dismissed on grounds of pragmatism within ten seconds.

James, London,

Children have been pledging allegiance to the queen for along time... girl guides, the brownie guide promise...ect. why bring this up now? To sell new newspapers?

Kristin, London, UK

What a disappointingly unhelpful statement by Lynne Featherstone - "I don’t think pledging allegiance to the Queen is the answer to young people’s problems.”

As Lord Goldsmith states, this could strengthen children’s understanding of what it means to be British and perhaps even instill a small sense of pride and patriotism. It's not about solving the problems of young people.

Lynne Featherstone appears to have missed the point entirely!

Terry Green, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

As an ex-pat living in the US, I hear the pledge of allegiance said frequently by children in school often. They mouth the words and rarely ask what they mean.

Julie , Virginia, USA

This is utter cobblers. Many people don't care about the queen any more, preferring the idea of a republic, so they will not feel compelled to give their allegiance. Even those (like myself) who like the monarchy would feel dictated to by schools, and rebel against it.
How many people can honestly say they would feel more 'British' by saying allegiance to the queen anyway? We are British, simple as that, saying allegiance can only bring change for the worse.

Nicholas Burns, Leeds, UK