Cost of Jubilee

I quite understand that there is almost certainly a large minority who will feel very unsettled about the apparent celebration of a lady who has vast wealth and privilege when poverty in the U.K. is increasing at a rate not seen certainly in our lifetime and possibly much longer. Food banks are a national shame.

However, no one can deny that this elderly lady has as she promised kept faith with the British people throughout her life and has as well as being a focal point for the population, contributed to stability in our country, sometimes being dragged into the modern world, but always dependable. Those celebrating a long life well lived, do not deny the problems and perhaps understand that she is the head of a system that entrenches attitudes that may have contributed to so much inequality, but for better or worse she has reigned by the consent of her subjects and the House of Windsor will presumably continue until we say “enough”

I am a Republican.

nadateturbe

So if one doesn't celebrate the jubilee, one is miserable.
I'm not miserable, I just happen to care about people.

My opinion matters as much as yours Daisyanne

Well, your opinions matter as much to you as mine do to me nadateturbe but I doubt either matters much beyond that.

has anyone anywhere on this thread suggested that you cannot be happy without a long lived Queen?

Are poor people not allowed to enjoy a special occasion, be tempted to look happy, or find any pleasure in life, even if momentary, or worst still spend as much as a penny, on something thats purpose is not strictly utilitarian or necessary?

Lady Louise Windsor wearing the Philip Treacy hat today, the same hat her mum wore to Trooping the Colour in 2009

If the Jubilee celebrations had been cancelled because of the cost of living crisis does anyone really believe that the money saved would have been used to help those being plunged into poverty? My feeling is that it would have disappeared into the same black hole as the £350 million for the NHS.

Does anyone believe that when we become a republic and have an elected head of state we won't continue to have events like this? The likes of Bozo won't be able to resist it.

M0nica

has anyone anywhere on this thread suggested that you cannot be happy without a long lived Queen?

Are poor people not allowed to enjoy a special occasion, be tempted to look happy, or find any pleasure in life, even if momentary, or worst still spend as much as a penny, on something thats purpose is not strictly utilitarian or necessary?

M0nica, what are you talking about?

Are you obsessed with poor people having fun? Really, what are you talking about?

GrannyGravy13

Lady Louise Windsor wearing the Philip Treacy hat today, the same hat her mum wore to Trooping the Colour in 2009

Phew. That'll save some money then.

How do people know things like this?

I thought how good Lady Louise looked in that hat. If it’s a recycled one of her mother’s, good on them both.

?

Grandma70s

Luckygirl3

I too find the idea that national celebrations should include weapons of war and gun salutes more than weird - a bit sick really!

I agree! Quite baffling, and not even good to look at. What could be uglier than a bomber?

I quite enjoy the toy soldiers in their red tunics and bearskins, but I know that’s hypocritical of me.

All those involved with the fly past are in the service of the Queen and therefore of our countries.

Just think of the ex-service people watching and feeling proud of their service to our country. If my father were still here he would have been watching all the planes - even those some call "ugly" and remembering joining the RAF as a 16-year-old - in the same year that the RAF was 16 - and then remembering the 30 years of service that followed. He would have remembered the planes that flew in the war and would be proud of the advances in technology made. I was trying to work out how best to display his medals the other day. My mother too would have been remembering her days in the WAAF during the war, living a life she never expected to live, in service to her country.

My brother, keeping in touch from America is proud to remember his time in the Army, including active service and might have glanced up at the photograph he has of the Queen presenting him with his MBE. I am very proud of what he did to deserve that.

Many other servicemen and their families will be watching the "toy soldiers", as you so derisively call them, knowing they are serving soldiers and may have shared active service with some. They will be proud to be represented by them.

There is a nasty cynicism in this country . One that leads many to forget what they owe to others. One that means they will insult those who are prepared to give their all for us if called upon.

Well said ^DaisyAnne* ????

I’m happy that people are enjoying themselves during the jubilee celebrations.
I’m still a republican though.

Having just watched my lovely UK GD on video cheering the fly past from the southern side of the Thames it has been interesting to read your comments about the perceived waste of money. It seems to me that many people are enjoying themselves hugely, I am viewing from afar in NZ and our celebrations are low key. Maybe I would be a bit sick of it if I were in the UK.
Thinking about money spent one thing I would say is that the Royal family has generated billions of pounds in tourism for your country. To have this celebration viewed around the world at the start of Summer must be a boost to tourism.
I enjoyed watching the fly past on tele especially seeing the Lancaster bomber, my great uncle captained one in WWII.

That is apart from all the fun so many people seem to be having, there are times to celebrate.

DaisyAnne

Grandma70s

Luckygirl3

I too find the idea that national celebrations should include weapons of war and gun salutes more than weird - a bit sick really!

I agree! Quite baffling, and not even good to look at. What could be uglier than a bomber?

I quite enjoy the toy soldiers in their red tunics and bearskins, but I know that’s hypocritical of me.

All those involved with the fly past are in the service of the Queen and therefore of our countries.

Just think of the ex-service people watching and feeling proud of their service to our country. If my father were still here he would have been watching all the planes - even those some call "ugly" and remembering joining the RAF as a 16-year-old - in the same year that the RAF was 16 - and then remembering the 30 years of service that followed. He would have remembered the planes that flew in the war and would be proud of the advances in technology made. I was trying to work out how best to display his medals the other day. My mother too would have been remembering her days in the WAAF during the war, living a life she never expected to live, in service to her country.

My brother, keeping in touch from America is proud to remember his time in the Army, including active service and might have glanced up at the photograph he has of the Queen presenting him with his MBE. I am very proud of what he did to deserve that.

Many other servicemen and their families will be watching the "toy soldiers", as you so derisively call them, knowing they are serving soldiers and may have shared active service with some. They will be proud to be represented by them.

There is a nasty cynicism in this country . One that leads many to forget what they owe to others. One that means they will insult those who are prepared to give their all for us if called upon.

I can quite see that there are people who wish to celebrate the fact that they showed courage during conflicts but I am not sure how that celebration should involve displaying weapons; and I cannot see how these are relevant to celebrating the fact that the queen has been on the throne for 70 years.

It is not cynicism nor a forgetting of what these people had to face to ask what weapons designed for killing people have to do with this celebration.

Well said, DaisyAnne
One that means they will insult those who are prepared to give their all for us if called upon

One who gave his all was my FIL.

If faced with an enemy about to kill me or my family I'd rather like to have an armed serviceman or woman between that enemy and me.

It is not cynicism nor a forgetting of what these people had to face to ask what weapons designed for killing people have to do with this celebration

Because HM is Head of the Armed Services.
They serve the Queen and country.

What could be uglier than a bomber?
A pile of dead bodies, murdered children, killed by the enemy?

I quite enjoy the toy soldiers in their red tunics and bearskins, but I know that’s hypocritical of me.
Yes, it is. As well as being an absolute insult.

It is not cynicism nor a forgetting of what these people had to face to ask what weapons designed for killing people have to do with this celebration.

I'm sure that others reading my reply didn't assume my comment on the cynicism of some was related to the March Past, Fly Past or the Gun Salutes. If anyone is still unsure, it was because of the disrespect shown towards our serving forces.

One day we may have a vote on changing from a Constitutional Monarchy to another system. If we decide to do that, I hope this time we do it properly and not as if it is a vote in a reality TV game. I would hope it would have a properly laid out super majority. I would also hope that we have Citizen Juries so that the country can learn about how the decision is affected by our history, our customs and our Constitution. It would also enable us to see the alternatives available and how they would be structured. If we go by some of the comments on this thread, knowledge seems sadly lacking in some areas. Knowing all the pros and cons all round would help us not repeat the recent referendum which left us with many people finding out, after the event, what the truth was about how it would affect them.

People know the cost is as spurious an argument Jumblygran. It is used in the same way as the message on the side of the bus or the threat that we would be over-run by Turkish citizens if we chose to remain in the EU.

There are certainly arguments for not having a Constitutional Monarchy. The "expense" of this event is typical "red meat" or unsubstantiated comment thrown towards those the speaker/writer thinks will bring a particular group on-side. This seems to have become the level of discussion politically.

DaisyAnne it was certainly not my intention to bring any group alongside. These costs or gains are hard to measure, not living in the UK I am unaware of any discussion. The pomp and ceremony is part of how visitors see the culture of your country.

I’m from a military family and like a flypast, but feel sad that each of those bearskins=one dead bear. No military purpose whatsoever, just for show and totally unecessary.

Given that the skins are from the necessary cull of Canadian Black Bears surely this is making use of something that would otherwise be wasted. The bears are not killed to especially provide the skins for this purpose.

Well, the Queen has pulled out of going to the St Paul's Thanksgiving celebration today, so sounds as if she's had enough as well.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10879725/The-Queen-pulled-Fridays-St-Pauls-Cathedral-service.html

“Culling”= unnecessary killing - just an excuse.

The fur isn’t given away it costs £££s. There are cruelty free alternatives. The fur has no purpose other than decorative. Why wear the skin of a beautiful animal on your head when there’s no need?

It is so interesting reading some of these comments, I am borderline Republican but until and unless there is a viable alternative, we should stick with what we have. Tax payers money was not used for these celebrations and if people want to enjoy those celebrations, I’m fine with that. I will be missing the Jubilee thing in my village but I’m not sad about that. What I am agitated and cross about this morning is the absolute rubbish written about H&M in the Daily Fail today.