Jubilee

[Thomzo]

So we have been fortunate and the current monarch has been personable and popular but we have no guarantee about the next incumbent or the one after that.

Erm, I think we do know what the next monarch, and the one after that are going to be like.

Still, each to their own. Personally, I'm with Boboff on this one.

And lets not forget that the Queen's income gets spent in this country. Out of her income she has to pay salaries for cleaners, cooks, gardeners etc. She's responsible for maintaining the Royal residences, most of which are open to the public, draw tourists and have huge historical significance. That maintenance goes on paying specialist craftspeople and preserving their skills.

Anyway, I thought a lot of the cost of the Jubilee celebrations was donated? I suspect the Jubilee will boost the economy not make it worse.

Zoe

[gregorach]

And lets not forget that the Queen's income gets spent in this country. Out of her income she has to pay salaries for cleaners, cooks, gardeners etc.

So why not just cut out the middle man and pay people directly? We could maybe even get them doing something a bit more useful than pampering some toffs...

She's responsible for maintaining the Royal residences, most of which are open to the public, draw tourists and have huge historical significance. That maintenance goes on paying specialist craftspeople and preserving their skills.

Again, we could just pay for that directly, just like we do with all the other historical attractions. I don't see what we gain by routing the cash through the bank account of one of the richest people in the world.

[happyhippy]

I'm no royalists either but is'nt it nice to have something bright and cheery going on,rather than all the doom and gloom thats usually thrown at us?Demi,you've got quite strong views,not sure why it would really bother you,you don't live in this country anymore!

[The Riff-Raff Element]

And since the Queen's constitutional role is supposedly purely ceremonial, I don't see why we'd need a President either. If she has no actual constitutional power, we can just get rid of the whole lot without it making the least difference.

I have a dim recollection that there are some quite substantial powers still vested in the Crown. For example, the armed forces have her as their commander-in-chief, not the PM of the day. The logic being, I understand, that in the event the PM orders the army to attack the populace they can simply disobey on the say so of the monarch.

Doesn't mean they would, mind, but they could.

She'd need to be replaced with something, I suspect. Other countries manage with presidents with little or no executive power: the UK could do the same. I think it would be a better alternative than a French-style model where the president has entirely too much power compared to parliament.

Re. Nessie - everyone knows that she was a highly trained Spetnaz seal. We won't see her like again.

[pelmetman]

We admire the Queen and her family. Watched the tv yesterday and loved every minute of the boats going up the Thames. Just watched the concert and thoroughly enjoyed it. We are more than willing to pay the few quid it costs us to keep the Royals.

Sue

[demi]

I'm no royalists either but is'nt it nice to have something bright and cheery going on,rather than all the doom and gloom thats usually thrown at us?Demi,you've got quite strong views,not sure why it would really bother you,you don't live in this country anymore!

true i dont live in the UK anymore, but iv never seen the point in the royal family. same goes for the church ect, bunch of theiving sharlatons! i cant just suddenly change my view, i still believe it!

also it would be nice if their was a pay cap for people earning rediculus amounts of money, like footballers and flim stars ect, and enything over that amount should go directly to charity. it makes me angry that some people have more money than they know what to do with and they waste it all on superficial stuff when theres so many people in the world that truly need it. its sad. comunism is a good concept, but doesnt work in reality. although everyone here says the standerd of living was much better when it was comunist with Tito in yugoslavia, since they split up its all gone down the shitter and some people cant afford to buy bread for their familys. but not to worry, as long as the queen gets her silly party!

[boboff]

Yawn, your'e boring....too.

Someone in the world can't afford bread so lets not celebrate anything, on that basis you're not getting any Christmas presents because my Wife has a corn!

[Millymollymandy]

We admire the Queen and her family. Watched the tv yesterday and loved every minute of the boats going up the Thames. Just watched the concert and thoroughly enjoyed it. We are more than willing to pay the few quid it costs us to keep the Royals.

Sue

I watched the rest of the Thames bit last night (well most of it!) and you know what I was thinking about the most? How terribly BRITISH it was, with all that pouring rain. Still it didn't dampen anyone's spirits and I see the sun was shining on the concert last night (again have only seen bits of it) which was great.

[Millymollymandy]

Oddsox, which original jubilee are you referring to? The silver, gold, or Queen Victoria's Diamond?

I certainly was there for the silver and the gold, but not as far as I can remember, Victoria's
I was actually referring to the "origin" of the jubilee, the coronation on June 2nd 1953. I wonder if there are plans for next year ?

Ahhhhh! Do you know, they were quoting the temperatures for the days of the Silver and Gold Jubilees and the Coronation on Radio 4. Apparently it was 14C, sunshine and showers on the day of the Silver (I was there, dressed as a punk on the youth club float - we did 25 years of music so either Teds or Punks ) and I only remember a warm sunny day.

Also they said it was 12C on the day of the Coronation! That's bloody freezing for June!

[Odsox]

Also they said it was 12C on the day of the Coronation! That's bloody freezing for June!

Yes and it rained steadily all day too, well in the south it did. The rather amusing fact that I remember is that the 3rd of June was chosen after the meteorologists looked back through the records and determined that that day was almost guaranteed to be warm and sunny.
Probably Michael Fish's dad
At the silver jubilee I was also on a float, dressed as a bearded lady .. and still have the photos to prove it, although you stand very little chance of me posting it.

[Mrs Moustoir]

And for (most of) the Brits in exile! Well said SusieGee.

There isn't much to be happy about at the moment and to see so many people having a good time really gladdens the heart.

I wouldn't say I was a raging Royalist either but how can you knock something that gives such joy?

ps Yes, it did rain at the Silver Jubilee. I remember the dye coming out of the crepe paper of my fancy dress costume!

[demi]

Yawn, your'e boring....too.

Someone in the world can't afford bread so lets not celebrate anything, on that basis you're not getting any Christmas presents because my Wife has a corn!

thats fine with me. i dont believe in christmas anyway. its just a big scam to get your money. baaa humbug!!!
and im glad it rained and everyone got wet, serves them right!

[ goes away in a huff ]

[Green Aura]

Sorry, we've had company for the last couple of days (they came all this way to avoid Jubilee celebrations ) so I've missed this thread. Highly amusing.

I'm with Dunc on this whole issue but I don't begrudge the good folk of London having their day out in the rain.

At the Golden Jubilee street parties around Fulham I discovered that if you're drunk enough you can fall flat on your face without spilling your pint - good times

[gregorach]

I, like many others, would not exactly call myself a Royalist but what little I have seen and heard about this Jubilee has warmed my heart. It appears to have united many people in the Country and brought tremendous pleasure to young and old alike.

Well, apart from those of us whose carefully considered political and philosophical views make us republicans. Apparently we just need to shut up and go away... And that's not divisive in the least, because we simply don't count. Problem solved!

How lovely to see smiling happy faces on the tv for a change instead of the constant moaning, whinging and doom and gloom.

There are always smiling, happy faces - the TV just doesn't show you them. The problem there lies with the TV, not with the people.

[boboff]

First Reply deleted.

:0) Cheer up Dunc.