I’ve watched parts of today’s celebrations for the Queen’s 50th anniversary. I found them lovely, and congratulations to the British who have given those pictures to the world.
But what does the Teeming Millions community think about the Jubilee? Deserved for her? Too much money wasted for an obsolete monarchy? Or do you think it wasn’t really about the Queen but more a national party with the Golden Jubilee merely providing something of an excuse to celebrate? And: Non-British Commonwealth citizens - did it have importance to you?
British Doper here. Didn’t go, didn’t care. Nothing personal towards the Queen, but why should I celebrate someone born into a role still performing that role fifty years later?
All it meant to me was an extra day off work and nothing on TV.
Someday I’m hoping somebody can explain to me the rationale behind having the Hell’s Angels riding in the Big Huge Parade Of Everybody And His Brother From Places On Earth You Never Heard Of.
–Not that I have any problem with it, oh, noooo, it’s fine with me, if the Hell’s Angels wanna ride in the Queen’s parade…
[backing away slowly]
But for some reason I kept flashing on those parades in the People’s Republic of China, where they trot out EVERYBODY (the Glorious Association of the Northern Szechuan Noodle Manufacturers, the Splendid Brotherhood of the Southern Szechuan Noodle Manufacturers…), and ever last one of them carrying banners.
I loved the Concorde flyby, BTW, even if it didn’t look normal, somehow, to have it cruising along about 100 feet above a thousand tap-dancing children, like any other barnstormer. “Hey, where’s the wing-walker?”
And I thought it was a marvelous excuse for a party, a wonderful time-out from everyday life, and well worth the money (especially since I didn’t have to pay for any of it).
Because today, it’s back to business on bbc.co.uk. Israel, Kashmir, teacher’s unions, and the President of South Korea’s son has been charged with tax evasion (he says he’s sorry–I bet he is).
Bring back the five thousand gospel singers, say I!
Canadian here. The only way it impacted me is that I had to wait for any decent news coverage on important things going on in Ottawa and around the world because the folks at all of the news channels/programs here seem to think that I actually care. Here’s a news flash: The typical Canadian doesn’t care about the queen. Nobody here cares about the World Cup, either.
We had a tremendous time; our little village closed off the street and had a proper street party for about 200 children with clowns, parades, music, fairground rides, toffee apples and the lot.
My daughter won first prize in the ‘best decorated bicycle’ competition and we attended a couple of wonderful free concerts.
Perhaps the monarchy is an outmoded idea, but I can’t see any reason to resent it myself.
[sub](Oh and my prediction is that by the end of 2003, the Queen will have stood aside and let Charles take up the rei(g)ns)[/sub]
I watched a bit of the concert and fireworks doings on the telly. Philip looked like he was having a top time - slap-up dinner with plenty of drinks, watch a few bands, chat up Shirley Bassey, watch rocket set fire to things, watch things go bang - PERFECT NIGHT OUT!!!111
I watched the classical concert on TV (didn’t spot jr8), and enjoyed the extra day off.
Personally, I didn’t mind it. I’m OK with a celebration of this country’s traditions (at least the good ones). Which is what it is, really; you can’t claim it’s a ringing personal endorsement of Brenda’s leadership, because she doesn’t do any leading, much. And I thought her efforts to be inclusive (Hell’s Angels and all - apparently, their attendance was given the Royal OK in person) were a good thing in general. Nice gesture. And nice gestures are what we have the royal family for.
Yep, that about sums up my feelings on the matter. I didn’t even enjoy the extra bank holidays, I was too busy getting ready for my exams so that they let me back into uni next year, so I only noticed them because i didn’t get any post.
I’ve bought the Daily Mail though, so i can read all about the jubilee. Man, i love that paper, its hilarious.
Over the weekend leading up to the Jubilee, it was great to see so many Union Jacks flying and bunting out. It is rare indeed that the Brits can flay their flag without being accused of being racist - and to see so many of them up for all the right reasons was great.
I went up to London with some mates for the Monday and Tuesday, and I have to say that to actually be there was amazing.
To be one of over a million people around the palace was incredible. To hear the whole crowd cheering when the Queen first appeared during the concert was uplifting*****. To see such a damn fun concert for free was brill. To see the excitement in the crowd as the Queen came down the Mall was magic. And as for the fireworks… well what can I say?
And then the next day - gold coach, huge parade, the Red Arrows, the whole kit-and-kaboodle. And then, once again we were a part of the million-strong crowd that thronged the area around the palace and spilled right down the Mall - everyone singing odd songs and the National Anthem, and cheering like mad when the Queen came out onto the balcony.
Wow, what a fab couple of days. It makes me proud to be a Brit.
[sub]*****Memo to Blair - we all boo-ed you 'coz you looked like such a miserable sod when Ben Elton was making jokes about the government. Cheer up, you wet blanket.[/sub]
Aus Doper here. I caught a bit of the Jubilee of telly last night. I thought it was absolutely charming. (No, ‘charming’ is not quite a synonym for ‘quaint’, why do you ask? ;)) Any reason for a great big party is a good one.
For some reason, I always grin hugely when I see the Queen on television (I’m smiling now, just thinking about her). It’s difficult to explain, but there’s just something ridiculously humorous about her. (An elderly woman in a bright yellow frock with matching hat and gloves, trotted out at all kinds of occasions to make a wee speech in her funny accent… I just love it!) So I enjoyed it when Queenie emerged from the Palace and copped a great big cheer from the crowd. (Dame Edna Everage introduced her: “she’s a housewife, just like me” :D)
Oh, Duck Duck Goose, did you see the thread in GD a while back discussing the participation of the Hell’s Angels in the Jubilee? I think the conclusion was that the Hell’s Angels in Britain is quite different: they’re more ‘middle-aged accountants and lawyers on Harleys’ than crime lords.
You don’t. The Queen reimburses the Treasury for the entire civil list, except for the money for her and her husband. (It would obviously be easier for the Treasury to just not pay the money in the first place, but this would require an Act of Parliament - there are more important things taking up government time than this.)
PR, I guess.
Why not?
Like you say, historical reasons. Charles has suggested that he would like to end this - he would prefer to be “Defender of the Faiths” rather than just “Defender of the Faith” since the UK is not a predominantly Christian country any more.
Because changing this would require an Act of Parliament in every country where the British monarch is Queen - far to much government time would be taken up on a minor issue.
Why should there be? (I don’t reckon she will become Queen, though.)
We can get UK TV here, and the concerts were all pretty damn good, especially the one for aging British rockers. (As I am an aging Irish rocker that is not meant as an insult.) Curious that the Corrs were invited to perform in a showpiece for British music.
I understand the points Glee makes, which make sense. Could the British Queen fund the expense of her family by running more rock festivals at Buckingham Palace?
Are you saying this would be a controversial measure? It wouldn’t take more than a morning to draft and 5 minutes to pass.
Now if the Queen would just agree to pay all her taxes like the rest of us…
A sensible statement.
Because if you have a hereditary Monarchy, surely the heir to the throne (also the automatic Head of the Church) should be faithful.
I would respect Charles more if he ‘abdicated’ to marry the woman he loves. Instead he wants to have his mistress/cake and eat…(er, I’ll stop there :o )
Why should such pressure be put on someone anyway? This is why I want a President who both wants the job, and is qualified to do it.
If Britain ever gives up the monarchy, I’m going to cry. There’s something special about the institution as it relates to the history of our modern democracy that has evolved for nearer a millenium since Magna Carta.
And I named my second daughter after the greatest emperor the world as ever known, Queen Victoria, whose empire stretch around the globe, resulting in the phrase, "The sun never sets on the Union Jack " Yes, my daughter was born on Victoria Day Weekend in the city of Victoria, in the Victoria General Hospital. I’d like to say we had tea at the Empress Hotel, but that was another day.
And I fondly recall making a cup of coffee with a bunsen burner for Princess Margaret on a remote island while she wore my gum boots. I actually traded foot bacteria with royalty. If the British give up the monarchy, that story won’t be worth repeating.
I’m afraid that seeing my prime minister, Jean Chretien, riding in a golden coach just won’t excite me. Hooray for 50 years of Queen Elizabeth , my Queen for most of my 52 years of life.
Boring old woman, possessing no known personal skills, merits or achievements, clocks up 50 years of tedious incompetence. Her famously stupid dysfunctional family sucks up to her. A vast amount of money is lavished on this brain-dead parasite so that she can have a bit of a party. End of story.
Meanwhile, those of us with a life were doing things a damn sight more interesting than watching the Windsors (“Simpsons without the brains”) burn through half a ton of public money.
