What does this Queen's Birthday holiday mean to you? A welcome long weekend? A chance to reaffirm in song "... long to reign over us, God save the Queen''? Bruce Munro talks to some of Otago's ardent Royalists. What he hears might challenge your ideas about the relevance of Her Majesty in the 21st century.
The pretty face of a youthful Queen Elizabeth II is turned to look beyond the life-sized portrait's carved frame.
In this lavish corner of her dominion, wood quietly crackles in a fireplace surrounded by a carved Carrara marble mantel.
Atop it sits an antique clock of dark wood and an enormous gilt-edged mirror which reflects the room's Corinthian columns, plush ruby drapes, chandeliers and silver coffee service.
Beneath Her Majesty is a lectern draped in a royal blue banner festooned with a coat of arms: a Union Jack encircled by a black belt bearing the words The Victoria League, upon which is balanced an ornate crown.
Facing the lectern and Her Royal Highness, seated at four white-cloth draped tables filling the Dunedin Club's formal dining room are about 35 members of the League.
At one point, the province had four such royal societies - the Royal Overseas League, the English-Speaking Union, the Royal Commonwealth Society and The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship.
All had roughly the same aims, shoring up the ties that bind far-flung colonies to the motherland and her alternately gracious and great monarchs.
In their heyday, royal societies were well subscribed.
But now, the Victoria League alone remains.
It was established in England, within months of Queen Victoria's death, to "promote friendship and hospitality across Commonwealth nations''. Four years later, the Otago branch was the first to set up shop in New Zealand, in 1905.
Now only the Otago and Canterbury branches are still open for business in this corner of the erstwhile empire.
And in recent years, the Otago League's membership has primarily been buoyed by transfers when other like-minded societies have closed their doors.
Across the room, one navy broad-brimmed hat bobs on a sea of silver heads. Blue, grey and brown is the predominant fashion palette.
Perhaps two people present are aged under 60.
This afternoon's gathering has been called for three reasons.
It is Queen Victoria's birthday, the British High Commissioner to New Zealand is in town, and there is a changing of the guard.
Standing at the lectern are the outgoing and incoming presidents of the Victoria League in Otago.
Passing the baton is Betty Rawlings.
She has been branch president for the past three years.
Her membership, however, goes back to 1956, when she travelled to Britain for her OE.
"At that time it was the done thing to join the League,'' Mrs Rawlings recalls.
"The London headquarters offered wonderful hospitality to young visitors from Commonwealth countries.''
Mrs Rawlings has had several close encounters with Royalty.
The first was as a sergeant in the Women's Royal New Zealand Air Force during Queen Elizabeth's 1953 tour of New Zealand.
She and three other airwomen were picked to represent the Taieri Air Force Station when the Queen presented her Colour at a special parade at Whenuapai Air Force Station, in Auckland.
Travelling to Auckland and back by train, Mrs Rawlings said strong support for the Royals was evident in every town and city.
"Everywhere we passed through, there were decorations up. People came out in their thousands to see them.''
At Whenuapai, two weeks of practice went in to their drill before the parade.
"It was very exciting and nerve-wracking. We had to march on and stand to attention in front of the dais during the speeches. I was just a few metres from the Queen.
"The Queen looked so lovely, in her gorgeous Dior nipped-in waist and full skirt. So, there was that allure.''
The next encounter was in 1974, when Mrs Rawlings came within arm's length of the Queen.
They crossed paths at the Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton, somewhere near the powder room.
"What I recall is her beautiful complexion, absolutely. Peaches and cream. Gorgeous.''
Most recently, during 2014, it was a seat near the front of St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, for a service attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton.
• The Royal Family continues to have Mrs Rawlings' support because it is a symbol of stability in an ever-changing world.
‘‘They have remained so steadfast in their duty, particularly during World War 2 ... That has continued with the present Queen; so dutiful. I mean, born to a life of privilege but, my word, it comes with responsibility.''
Among those watching proceedings at the Dunedin Club this afternoon is David Humphrey.
He joined the Victoria League in 1960 and jokes that he has been a member ever since because he hasn't the heart to resign.
But beneath the ex-naval officer's joviality is a watertight conviction New Zealand should remain a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.
The weighty importance of Royalty first struck him as a 23-year-old sub lieutenant celebrating his first Queen's Birthday holiday shortly after arriving in England in 1960.
"I was on HMNZS Taranaki. We were down in Plymouth, doing pre-commissioning training. There the bands were marching, and I was in awe of the grandeur, pomp and dignity of the Royal Marines celebrating the Queen's Birthday. I thought, 'Gosh, this really means something'.''
The attitude was cemented years later during a visit by Prince Charles to New Zealand. Mr Humphrey, whose service career included time in Singapore during the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation and as aide-de-camp to two Governors-General, was approached by the heir to the throne after a concert in Dunedin.
"Oh, hello. Member of the club?'' the Prince, who had spotted Mr Humphrey's aide-de-camp tie, asked.
"Yes, sir, '' Mr Humphrey replied.
"What service?''
"Navy, sir.''
"And what ship?"
"Hickleton, sir.''
Prince Charles had had command of a British Navy ship of the same class as the Hickleton.
"When I said Hickleton, he looked at me,'' Mr Humphrey says.
"And then he said, 'They would roll on a heavy dew, wouldn't they'.''
"I thought, for an impromptu comment, that showed a mark of his intellect. He's pretty bright.''
New Zealand becoming a republic would be a step in the wrong direction, Mr Humphrey believes.
"No, we would have too much to lose, and we would be letting down those who have gone before us.
"I think it is a strong sentiment that is shared by quite a few others. The flag referendum brought that out, too. It showed our unfailing loyalty to Britain.''
Having the Queen as the head of the Commonwealth gives us "something to respect, something around which to show loyalty and pride'', he says.
"You have to have someone at the top, and I think the Queen does that.
"I think a lot of countries that don't have our structure are pretty envious of us. For example, look at the direction the United States is taking at the moment. I think the pluses far exceed the minuses.''
As afternoon tea draws closer, apologies are read out for about a dozen absent members and invited guests who could not attend.
Among them is past president June Henderson, who 15 years ago shook hands with the Queen.
Speaking later, Mrs Henderson is full of smiles as she recalls standing in the line-up at Marlborough House, in London, watching the Queen drawing closer.
The occasion was the centenary of the Victoria League, in 2001.
Mrs Henderson was one of two New Zealand Victoria League members selected for the honour.
As the Queen extended her hand, she asked Mrs Henderson if it was true she was from New Zealand.
"Yes, Ma'am,'' she replied.
"Well,'' said the Queen, "my husband and I are intending to visit New Zealand and Australia in the not too distant future.''
In the end, however, the September 11 terrorism attacks in the US interrupted those plans.
The visit did not take place until late 2002.
Even so, the meeting was "a great honour'' and "a wonderful memory'', Mrs Henderson said.
Standing at the lectern with Mrs Rawlings is Christine Bell, the Victoria League's new Otago president.
Mrs Bell brings the formalities to a close. Dunedin Club staff efficiently distribute to the tables high tea cake stands laden with triangular sandwiches, bite-sized savouries and sweet treats.
In a quiet corner, Mrs Bell conveys her strong convictions about the relevance of the Royal Family and New Zealand's need of her Queen.
Mrs Bell grew up in the United Kingdom and came to New Zealand 37 years ago. She retains her British citizenship but views Aotearoa as her adopted country.
"'I think the Queen has had it hard. And I think her immediate family members have had it hard,'' she says.
"But starting with Diana and progressing to William and Kate, I think they are modern and edgy. And they appeal to the younger cohort.''
The Queen is the one vital shared constant in the lives of citizens of all Commonwealth nations, she says.
"She has been there right through. She never gives a comment. She never actually says anything. She is just there.
"With the Queen there as a figurehead, as a masthead if you like, for New Zealand, it keeps us stable. It's the values that she stands for. Family, responsibility, devotion, her work ethic. She sees things through to the end.''
Self-discipline and a sense of duty is what is missing in today's generation. But the Queen leads by example.
"So, if she can do something, so can everybody else.''
The younger Royals, by joining the armed forces, have shown the same admirable traits.
"They are letting young people know that they can take responsibility for their lives. It's 2016, but you still need standards and personal responsibility. You can look to the Royal Family for that.''
Not all the time, Mrs Bell agrees.
Just like ordinary families, the Royals have had their problems, too.
"And if they can get through their problems, so can normal people.''
What we lack is a true aristocracy, Mrs Bell says.
This makes the monarchy even more valuable.
"We don't have an aristocracy in New Zealand. We have diplomats and we have the armed services; we have an officer class. So, we need someone to look to, I think. Otherwise we can get too casual in our work, our lives.''
Looking to the future, Mrs Bell believes Prince Charles will make a fine king.
"Because he is educated and he is solid.''
New Zealand should avoid the perils of becoming a republic.
"I need to be diplomatic here,'' Mrs Bell says, and pauses.
"I think, we are too small a nation to become a republic.
"The world is in turmoil. You've got Northern Ireland popping its head up again ... and you've got Isis. It's very uncertain out there ... So, you've got to provide some stability.
"The Queen keeps New Zealand ... and any Commonwealth country, reasonably stable.''
