Mal Fletcher comments on the cultural and religious identity of the UK

This is not to suggest that people of other faiths - and the many people who align themselves with no faith - have less claim on the symbolism or significance of royalty.

Far from it. The Queen herself has argued that Britain's Christian particularism 'protects the multitude of other faiths that flourish here'.

Cultural pluralism enriches us all; yet there still needs to be an appreciation of and commitment to a nation's core cultural distinctives. Without this, the family fragments and the type of secure, outward focus that brings growth becomes impossible.

Perhaps with this in mind, the Queen has reminded us, in a number of recent speeches, that we are not culturally children of nothing. Our shared values and social ethics have been shaped, in large part, by a distinctive worldview - in our case, a Judeo-Christian worldview.

The monarchy is, in her view, linked to a religious worldview, at least to the degree that its the ideals of Christianity that still influence social ethics and identity. I see no reason to believe that this influence will disappear in the next few decades.

Will the Queen's beliefs impact upon young Prince George? It is, of course, much too early to tell. We don't really know how long or how close will be the relationship between the Queen and her great grandson.

However, if the obvious respect that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have for the Queen is passed on to their son, the young prince might very well be impacted by her faith.

He certainly couldn't help but be impressed with her amazing commitment and her sense of duty as a monarch, both of which are a reflection of her core beliefs.