Jubilee is chance to show off Britain
Last updated at 13:38, Wednesday, 30 May 2012
AS the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations get under way this weekend, and as the country is bathed in glorious sunshine (well, it’s sunny in Ireleth as I sit writing this in the garden), the feel-good factor pervading the nation is palpable.
This is a great time to be British – unless you’re Engelbert Humperdinck.
I feel a little bit sorry for those curmudgeonly republicans who will feel the need to spend the Jubilee weekend rabbiting on about what a waste of public money it all is.
They’ll be muttering into their alcohol-free, celebration-free lager shandies about free-loading royals and the anachronism that is a modern monarchy, while the rest of us are getting stuck into the Pimm’s and belting out Rule, Britannia! And we all know who’ll be having more fun.
What republicans don’t appreciate is a monarchy such as ours provides a fantastic level of stability, sense of identity and feeling of continuity – all of which are hugely important in the great game of statehood.
It is hard to see how even the most blinkered anti-royalist could argue the Queen has been anything other than a tremendous force for good in Britain these past 60 years, displaying a work ethic and sense of duty which is increasingly awe-inspiring.
Apart from giving us the chance to celebrate this remarkable woman’s life with a good old knees up, the Diamond Jubilee gives us the chance to showcase just what it is that makes Britain so unique.
With the headline events of the weekend having been organised by Buckingham Palace rather than by a government department, you just know that everything will go off without a hitch – barring a freak tidal wave up the Thames.
Great occasions such as the Diamond Jubilee give us the all too rare opportunity to shout out loud about how great it is to be British. Because it is great – despite the recession, despite austerity, despite the terrible climate, despite summer riots, and despite the annual national humiliation that is the Eurovision Song Contest.
As long as Elizabeth II is on the throne, the republican cause will rightly remain forlorn. She might be 86 but it is fervently to be hoped our Queen still has long to reign over us.
First published at 13:17, Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Once again,allonby tries hard to push the myth of a stable ordinary family,that has fantastic wealth.But,despite this spin,the House of Windsor is in parasitic and opulent decline.
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Gawd bless the Queen guvnor,
her mum wahn va wah for us she did.cor blimey weve all become royalists.Oi am lavin it moiself.fought it was a right royal knees up.free cheers for va Queen: hip hip -the queen rocks you mugs, leave her alone,DPosted by Darren EdwaRDS on 6 June 2012 at 08:30