While I may be ‘pulling the tail feathers’ of those hardcore patriots, is it wise to say that the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee may have been a tad excessive? Let’s be Swiss about this.
It is excellent, amazing, even fantastic that we have a monarch, hell not just a monarch, but a whole royal family who tend to want, even at times seem to actually be thrilled, about taking part and being included in royal events, celebrations, fundraisers and even just an appearance in public. We have monarchs who date back to (as far as we know) 774 A.D. and have films, television programmes, books, plays, portraits, magazine features, clothing, furniture, crockery (the list goes on…) that feature our royals. And we are very proud. People come far and wide, from around the globe, to stand where they have stood, see where they marry, be in the country in which they live and breathe. And, as far as I am aware, people call our queen ‘The Queen’ as if she is the only one in the world. Well, do you know any others? We, Britain, in comparison to other nations, are extremely patriotic. The latest royal wedding, Prince William to his Princess Katherine, caused a national bank holiday, and an estimated 24.5 million people watched the ceremony on British television. Now that is a popular family. Something to definitely be celebrated. Street party, here we come!
BUT, we are a nation in trouble. We are in a five-year long recession – which optimistically the media says we are coming out of – but, to many, is showing no sign of ending. Unemployment is rising weekly, businesses are closing daily, and the weather seems to be getting worse. (okay, nothing to do with the economy but we are British – must talk about the weather. Which is also depressing.) And I do see that we all need a bit of cheering up, and yes, what better way than to have a good ol’ knees-up as queenie has been on the throne for a remarkable 60 years – nearly the longest reign of a British monarch (after Queen Victoria) but – did we have to have four whole days of it? My goodness, Union Jack bunting has been up for weeks, cakes have been baked, outfits made, concerts planned, servicemen rallied together, television stars and crews drafted in, police forces to man the streets, and all while the normal worker is given 2 days off work. How much, I hear you ask, has this cost, and who, pray tell, is paying for it? Well, I’m glad you ask, because allegedly costs were incurred of over £3million and was paid for you, I, the average taxpayer. I wonder how Joe Bloggs, local shop owner who has had to close recently as he cannot compete with another Tesco opening nearby, is celebrating his free 2 days off? Oh no, that’s right, he has the next 365 days off. Keep calm and carry on? It’s enough to cause a riot.