Also some of you might be familiar with the shot of Palpatine's statue holding that large orb in his hand that was at the end of the ROTJ:SE. It's a fairly minor thing, but when rumors started to turn up about it being featured in Episode I, many began to speculate about it's significance. Apparently the orb is in the possession of the Queen and is a symbol of power. We don't think it has any mystical powers, but probably serves the same function as a scepter. Of course, Palpatine's possession of it would be symbolic and the tearing down of the statue of him holding the orb would be even more symbolic. Interesting stuff.