Queen

Queen is dead. Long live Queen.Such sentiments probably are heard these days in the hallways of Hollywood Records, Disney's new pop music label. The company's first big-name music release, "Innuendo," is from the veteran British rock band Queen, a quartet that still has a large following internationally but hasn't enjoyed a high profile in the United States in recent years.In the '70s, the foursome -- vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor -- had five Top 10 albums and such major hit singles as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Somebody to Love," and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

Last time Queen Elizabeth II came to Maryland, she watched a Terps football game and visited a Giant supermarket.This time, her May 15 visit will include an Orioles game. But what else should she do while in Charm City?Tell us where you'd take the queen during her visit to Baltimore -- and why. We'll publish an itinerary based on your suggestions in early May.To call Sundial, dial 783-1800 (or 268-7736 from Anne Arundel County) using a touch-tone phone. Enter code 4400. The call is a local call from the Baltimore area.

Hay Let's Dance, winner of the Wide Country Stakes this spring, heads a field of fillies in today's $30,000-added Office Queen Stakes at Pimlico over the 1 1/16-mile distance.Chief contention is expected to come from Dance For Jan, the leading money-earner with $99,077. Hay Let's Dance is to be ridden by James Johnston, and Mario Verge will pilot Dance For Jan.Pub Date: 7/28/96

ON AND OFF THE AIR:* Here's the big question about tonight's scheduled visit to Memorial Stadium by Queen Elizabeth: Will Leslie Nielsen be there to protect her?Media Monitor cannot be the only one amused by the life-imitating-low-art irony of her royal highness' attendance at an Orioles game. For a ballpark assassination attempt on the queen was the crux of that hilarious 1989 film, "The Naked Gun."Remember? In the final sequence, Nielsen (as Lt. Frank Drebek) first sang the national anthem as an Italian opera star (almost as badly as Roseanne Barr)

The three townhouses that make up the luxury hotel 51 Buckingham Gate in London once did duty as guest houses for Queen Victoria. But from Nov. 18 through Dec. 18, a couple booking the Christmas Shopping weekend package can be modern-day guests for $440 a night (normally $598, at $1.84 to the pound), including breakfast and a butler to help with packing. Accommodations are in 12 deluxe junior suites. Details: 877-528-2503; 51-buckinghamgate.com.

LONDON -- Is Simon Hughes a panting republican zealot out to deep-six the queen of England or just a humble politician trying to further constitutional reform?It is a question of the moment here, and opinions depend on how one regards the British monarchy from which Americans celebrated their independence yesterday.Mr. Hughes is a Liberal-Democratic member of Parliament who represents the London constituency of Southwark and Bermondsey, and earlier this week he put a bill into Parliament that would require the queen to pay income taxes, which she does not now do.Mr.

SYKESVILLE -- Jennifer L. Harman got an early birthday present Monday when she was selected the Maryland State Firemen's Association Fire Prevention Queen for 1992 in Ocean City.Harman, who turns 18 today, competed as the 1991 Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Prevention Queen and the 1992 Maryland Fire Chief's Association Fire Prevention Queen.In Monday's contest, she vied with 10 other girls during the association's 100th anniversary convention."We had to make a presentation on fire prevention to three judges, who asked us questions about ourselves.

ELIZABETH I.Anne Somerset.Knopf.636 pages. $30. Elizabeth Tudor was a woman in a world of men, yet she gave her name to the age. For more than four centuries, her life has been a source of fascination for historians and readers.Anne Somerset's biography is a strong, straight-ahead book that stresses context and explanation. Author of two previous histories, Ms. Somerset is after the why and how of things. She wants to see the connections -- between events, between people. This is a boon for readers, even those who have read much about Elizabeth.

Deon Queen, a 6-foot junior guard, has been a bright spot for Chesapeake, which lost its first 20 games this season before defeating Southern (1-21), 53-50, on Saturday. Queen, a two-year starter and team captain, had 15 points in the victory and is averaging 14 points per game this season. He is the leader on a junior-laden team that has no seniors. How frustrating has it been this season, not winning a game until last Saturday? It's been pretty frustrating, and the team has to think about the situation and the little things we did to win. We proved to everyone in the win that we can do the right things and win. Losing 20 straight games, did the team expect to lose most of the time?