LONDON, March 16 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Queen of England are at odds over plans to have school children swear a patriotic oath.
The queen was upset by a government-commissioned report by former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith that recommends students should pledge an oath of allegiance but not necessarily to the monarch, The Mail on Sunday reported.
"What we would like to say is that Buckingham Palace was not consulted with regard to the Goldsmith review," a spokesman for the queen said.
The report has drawn criticism from traditionalists worried that the oath to the royal crown taken by new British citizens might be replaced by a pledge to the country.
The report suggests that to boost national identity among Britons there should be a "national day," treason laws should be reformed and council tax rebates should be given public volunteers, the newspaper reported.
Goldsmith said a pledge of allegiance would "promote a sense of shared belonging" and "better integrate newcomers to our society."
