The recent Royal visit was not only a major success, but it also provided the country with an opportunity to show appreciation for its British heritage.

It was nothing short of incredible to the see the outpouring of affection from all sections of the community for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, as the fulfilled a tight schedule of activities marking the Island's 400th anniversary during their short stay. There was an upbeat mood that swept the Island as many people stopped what they were doing to get a glimpse of the Royal motorcade.

The extremely warm reception gave some indication about how many people feel about preserving their British ties. In other words any moves toward independence at this time would most certainly not meet with a majority approval.

No right-thinking Bermudian would want independence sneaked in, similar to another incident that still has many people throughout the country upset. Although the overall reception might not have reached the level of the 1953 visit, adoration for our long link with Britain was undeniable.

During the special Thanksgiving service at the Anglican Cathedral which was packed to overflowing, the Royal couple heard the Bishop Patrick White, trace the struggle from the period of slavery to a more enlightened era of tolerance and social justice.

Following the service scores poured from buildings in the city to get a glimpse of the Queen boarding a ferry for the trip to the West End. It did not matter whether it was going to be a minute or two. They just wanted to be near a very special event.

For a spell there was some doubt as to whether the visit would even take place. It was no secret that Britain was far from pleased over the bringing to Bermuda of four detainees from Guantanamo Bay without any consultation with British authorities.

As Bermuda continues to wade through troubling times in tourism, and an economic downturn that has affected many lives, the Royal visit seemed to ignite a spirit of inner pride that usually lies beneath the surface.

The struggle of learning to live together today is even more challenging as Bermuda has become a more multicultural community. How we approach the future will largely depend on how well we can collectively harness the best of what Bermuda is about, in order to move forward in closer harmony.

Political differences should never be allowed to become a stumbling block in efforts to build a stronger democracy and continue to build values that form the foundation for a decent free society.

In a sense no country on this earth is totally independent. With massive global connections through modern communication systems, the most powerful nations need each other to remain strong, in a highly competitive world.

The recent royal visit maybe starting to fade, but in its wake it could be said that a powerful statement from the populace indicated that for the moment, independence for Bermuda is not a priority with most people. While there are those feel otherwise, that view should be respected.

Most of us are proud of Bermuda because it is a unique country out in the Atlantic with a small population, but today, many have been able to climb many social hurdles on the backs of many who toiled fore 400 years in order to help build the Bermuda we now know.

The world is changing and Bermudians should be more concerned about what is done right for the people, instead of being obsessed with having a flag change.

Independence will one day come, but it should only be achieved with the full backing of the majority. At the moment there are far larger issues the people want addressed, such as illegal drugs, crime, housing, healthcare and of course education.

Whatever happens, the wishes of the people should be paramount.