There have been some extraordinary and memorable scenes over the past three days from the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II which were enjoyed and should continue to be celebrated irrespective of their potential significance for rest of the year and beyond.
I visited the Mall and central London a day after the VE celebrations and there was a huge crowd just walking the route. There have been remarkable demonstrations of sympathy and support for the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill, King George VI, and the Queen mother, with to a lesser extent that of the Princess Margaret and her grandmother Queen Mary of Teck. The funeral of Princess Diana eclipsed all those that went before although this had a distinct anti monarchy republican feel during which time the Queen managed to prevent a permanent rupture by her address on TV and the unprecedented appearance of the women folk at the Palace Gates.
In happier times the Weddings of herself and her sister, and that of all her children also attracted international interest and national support but none of these events matched the spontaneous and genuine fervour of the extended weekend.
There remains several extraordinary images from the river pageant. The first being the sight of some two hundred and fifty manned crafts led by the Venetian decorated barge rowed by Sir Steve Red grave and Matthew Pincent and a number of service men who had been wounded in recent conflicts. The inspiration for this gathering was a Canaletto picture of an event in the Grand Canal. While at times the camera showed a higgle piggle of boats some trying go avoid clashing others it was a splendid sight and no mean feat to row or paddle some seven miles along the Thames at four knots plus tidal effect of two more. The tide had been controlled by the raising of the Thames barrier earlier in the day and although there was a strong breeze and heavy skies the rain kept off these craft until the final lap.
In front of Sir Steve was a power barge on which were placed eight giant bells inviting the churches along the way to join in.
The second memorable sight was that of the Royal Barge, a working barge converted into a sumptuous boat with gilded figures at the front and plenty of red plush under clever canopies which provided all round view of the three generations of Royals who were to feature together throughout the weekend, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, her eldest son and his second wife, she divorced and he a widower, and the still recently married eldest son of the Prince of Wales and his wife.
The third is that in part because of the weather and to avoid a negative regal effect, the Queen and her husband stood the entire journey of some four fours avoiding the seats. Having stood for a similar period of hours at the Stadium of Light last summer I appreciated the just how amazing was this feet for individuals aged 90 and 86. It is likely to have contributed to the Duke requiring to be cared for in hospital with a urinary tract infection and missing subsequent events. It is important to remember he recovered from heart surgery over Christmas which he also spent in hospital.
Princes Anne in her official capacity together with her husband and children led the powered craft who were divided into section each led by a vessel playing music of some kind. Being on the river without microphones it was difficult to appreciate much of the music until the end when the full BBC Orchestra and a choir of young talented singers with individual quality and power electrified the listeners with a last night of the Proms Rule Britannia, a jig followed by the National Anthem and which drew applause from the Royal gathering.
Prince Andrew and his two excited daughters were on another splendidly decorated barge along with the Mayor of London and his wife, other dignitaries. I cannot remember Prince Edward being identified as being on the pageant.
There were 1000 craft in all participating including a range of tall ships moored before Tower Bridge to welcome the Royal Barges as they moored to witness the rest of the craft passing by and which took over an hour, These included a number of boats who had participated in returning over three hundred thousands allied troops back from the beaches of Dunkirk. There were narrow boats from the canals unused to the open fast flowing Thames and flotilla of the large tourist cruisers and well as the working vessels with some five hundred registered Lightermen remaining from the fifty thousand who once earned their livelihoods along the great river in an around the pool of London. Now the remaining professionals often from families with a history of river service pilot convoys of large barges filled with rubbish from the city to a dump in Essex. Immediately behind the Royal barge were boats representing all 46 members of the Commonwealth.
The other lasting images included the impressive crowds who lined the banks in their tens and hundreds of thousands braving cold driving rain which developed as the afternoon progressed.
There was a huge 100 metre black and white photo of the Royal family standing on the central balcony of Buckingham Palace at the time of the Silver Jubilee thirty five years before covering the side one Thames embankment building. Passing the National Theatre was a visual display on the walls of the building and the company had moved the puppet horse from the play War Horse from the auditorium to the roof tot he delight of the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth has always had a great love of horses and liked to ride whenever she could, She had attended the Epsom Derby as the weekend celebrations commenced and along with Ascot these six days of racing are among the invioble in her calendar of events although it is said she will take the opportunity of a visit to Sandown, Newmarket and other Greater London courses if the opportunity arises. This is because she has always had a number of racing thoroughbreds in training and competing when considered appropriate.
The previous weekend there had been an assembly of representatives of the armed forces in the grounds of Windsor Castle and in the evening a lavish display of horsemanship from around the world including from Mexico and South America, from Italy, France and Spain, and from the USA. The group of white stallions was amazing, The programme was shown on ITV in the evening of the pageant.
Along with several million others I had applied for two of the 10000 tickets for seats at the evening concert and where in addition the lucky ones were invited into the gardens of the Buckingham Palace for a picnic which each paid of guests receiving a picnic hamper which included a most attractive red Royal crested hamper guard. Several of the hampers, mostly empty but some with an item of contents are already on E bay with prices ranging from £46 with bids and several hours/days to go to £200 instant and some and selling separately their programmes which were included in the hamper free with the highest bid £23 plus post although there is a Buy it now unused copies for under £10. The hamper also included two ponchos in cases and which have also gone on sale separately around £50 plus individual items such as tickets, hand wipes, menus, chocolate and cup cake.
As with all such occasions where the attempt is made to appeal to different ages and musical taste the overall effect of the music can be disappointing but in this instance while the song choice of some of the artists can be questioned the overall impact was sensational. There were several features which contributed to this.
The concert was held outside Buckingham Palace with the instantly demountable stage set on the Queen Victoria Statue roundabout in an extended semi circle to enable the two banks of five thousand seats on either side of he Mall to have good views together with the Mall itself filled with over one hundred people watching on large screens on either side of the wide thoroughfare. The third aspect of the concert was the use of the front of Buckingham Palace to project images. The Royal box at back behind one of the stands was also of great interests with the younger Royals clearly enjoying themselves with Princess Anne joining in at times while others looked out of place especially the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Robbie Williams commenced proceedings with Let me Entertain you together with a Royal Fanfare and the Coldstream Guards. Elton John wearing glittering cerise jacket commenced with I’m still standing while a gaunt looking Sir Cliff Richards sang a medley covering his sixty years of popular music singing. Dame Shirley Bassey naturally sang Diamonds are Forever after Sir Tom Jones now looking distinguished also performed. Alfie Boe sang a duet with Renée Fleming from an end balcony of the Palace while Lang Lang did a virtuoso bring the house down type of piano piece. Who else? JLS was there as was Cheryl Cole singing with Gary Barlow Wil I Am with Jessie J, Jools Holland with Ruby Turner, Ed Sheeran, Annie Lenox wearing Angels wings with members of the orchestra and backing singers sang, Must be an Angel, Kylie Minogue in a Pearly Queen outfit was a success and Stevie Wonder made his contribution before Sir Paul McCartney rounded off the evening‘s three hour show..
The three memorable performances commenced with Grace Jones in an extraordinary tight fitting outfit who successfully managed a Hula Hoop round her waist throughout her Slave to the Rhythm number at the age of 64. The second was memorable performance was that of Gary Barlow and the especially commissioned Jubilee Tribute number created by him and Andrew Lloyd Webber and with 200 musicians and singers. I had enjoyed a 55 minute programme the previous evening on how the song was created. The track lasts 3 minutes 20 seconds although it is included with five other tracks on an extended play album which should be delivered via Amazon tomorrow.
To please the Queen Gary travelled to Australia for the Sydney Opera Orchestra, to Jamaica and to Africa where he includes a street drumming band, to a rain soaked tropical island for a church choir together with a boy’s choir from Africa included along with a blind African singer with a beautiful soprano voice. The principal singers are the representatives from the forces wives choirs which have grown to 46. The main record called Sing is pleasant enough but it is how it came about which remains important.
The outstanding performance was not Madness who appeared on the roof of the palace performing Our House but the way the palace Palace was transformed in terraced housing and then a block of flats.
The Queen appeared well wrapped against the elements around Nine and then at Ten Thirty as the concert ended she appeared on stage led by Gary Barlow. The Prince of Wales made an excellent short speech endearing him by calling her mummy and she pressed a giant diamond into a unit to Light the national beacon the final of 4000 lit with sixty across Hadrian’s Wall, with one at South Shields. The final fireworks were outstanding bringing and excellent evening to an end.
The concert was introduced by a number of comics including Lenny Henry who commented about the white imbalance and Peter Kaye dressed as a Beefeater. One of the hosts made a great comment about the Culture Secretary deleting emails which although inappropriate for the evening was most enjoyable and timely.
The Culture Secretary was evident at the service of thanks giving at St Paul’s where the Queen was driven by car and then on to the Palace of Westminster where a great lunch for 700 was held by the City Livery companies. The Archbishop of Canterbury made pointed comments about excessive greed at time of national economic retrenchment, unemployment and poverty. The previous Dean of St Paul’s had resigned over the way the protestors against the banks and capitalism had brought the country to its knees and been removed from the ground outside the Cathedral and had been allowed to use facilities within the church. The action condemned the Church of England as representing the predominantly White upper and ruling class establishment.
A vast and joyous crowd assembled in the Mall and along the route from the Palace of Westminster to Trafalgar Square, and through Admiralty Arch and along St James’s Park to the Palace, in order to greet the Queen accompanied by her eldest son and his wife and followed by William, his wife and Harry, in full morning dress and two of the state carriages. There should have been three with the Queen with him husband and Charles and his wife separately.
Once the Royals reached the Palace there was that spectacular slow assembly of the populace down the Mall to the Gates for an appearance of the Queen, her eldest son and his sons on the balcony. It was evident that she and the other members of the Party were well pleased with the noise and enthusiasm. There was a small fly past compared to that at Windsor for the Drumhead service which included traditional Battle of Britain planes and the Red Arrrows trailing Red White and Blue smoke, despite the low cloud and the commencement of rain. Suddenly the celebrations came to an and everyone went home
The number of families, often with several generations had been conspicuous together with the numbers and enthusiasm of the crowds in general. Of the Royal Family the Queen behaved as always expected but said she was humbled by the response which provided her with memories to last the rest of her lifetime in a short broadcast last night. Prince Charles is showing a relaxed humour these days which is endearing to many who still blame him for the unhappiness of Princess of Diana. His wife has learned not to make speeches and appears dutiful and supporting although his accession will pose a problem for her. William and Kate remain the popular choice to take over although whether this would be acceptable to the Queen, Charles or Willia, is not likely to be disclosed in my lifetime and I am increasingly less likely to find out what happens given the Queen’s continuing good state of health with every indication of having to send herself a congratulatory 100th birthday photo card. So is there to a lasting legacy?
It has to be said that a substantial representation of white England demonstrated a patriotic nationalism I have not witnessed since the end of the second World War and is worth further consideration of why. I must stress the skin colour issue if you take for example the turn out for the Notting hill Carnival. As the controversial Historian David Starkie suggested in one TV appearance on Tuesday the Union with Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland is a fragile one and there was no reference to special trains from Wales or Scotland hired to bring people for yesterday. The Derby, the Pageant and Concert all had their particular audiences but there would have been few travelling from far afield unless to support members of their families participating or had gained one of the 5000 pairs of concert tickets or were already holidaying in the capital which will have accounted for many of those said to represent the direct involvement of th far flung concerns of the former empire/ I therefore stick with the assertion that this was a show of pro Monarch and nationalist loyalty from predominantly white England.
I also suggest that the demonstrations can be regarded as another slap at our present generation of political leaders. The manner and demeanour of Queen Elizabeth is in stark contrast to that of Cameron, Osborn, and Hunt ( Boris gets away it because he projects himself as one of the boys. That an unselected woman of part German origin can command such public support should sound a further warning that they and the previous Labour Party got it wrong, however politically and economically well intentioned, in understanding how far they could push the white population in directions considered desirable and at times necessary. This I also suggest remains the position and Cameron and the Coalition remain on probation, although it also has to be admitted so does the Labour alternative.
I believe that this explains while a majority in England would be quite happy to see Scotland, Wales and Ireland go their own way and why another majority would vote to exit the European Community if given the opportunity. The flag waving nationalism of the past week will have been nectar to anti Europeans. Also I suspect that the majority of the rest of the UK will not tolerate politicians supporting the idea of a European political Union which includes the any part of the UK ( but which I believe is essential for European economic survival although not necessarily for the UK) or for financially supporting the Euro and the countries dependent upon it.
I also contend that a substantial section of the Tory Party is likely to split from Cameron if he does not give greater anti European greater signals, especially if Labour under Ed Miliband looks as if it is going to cash on this sentiment prevalent on the streets and in the pubs. Cameron cannot do this because of the Coalition except that the possibility of a Coalition separation before the run up to the General Election is also possible with the Lib Dems separating themselves from their tarnished leader, however much he has been and remains a moderating influence on Tory polices to the right of centre. The Daily Mail has reported that Vince Cable is the leader of colleagues having preliminary discussions with Labour on forming a different looking Coalition in 2015 of the election results produces another coalition situation.
The reason why England and the rest of UK, if it remains politically and economically tied, has a chance, albeit a risky chance, of surviving outside a European Political Union, is because of our ties with the USA, our efforts to establish a basis for trade with China and Russia and the continuation of the Queen as the head of the Commwealth, especially our links with India, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, together with our involvement in the Middle east and North Africa, especially our with respect to Arab money. However in order to survive we would need to retain strong economic and financial links with the rest of Europe and this will pose a problem if we are outside any political changes, but which fortunately will take a decade or more achieve. I believe that recent days may push politicians further along this risk road but which may become necessary as it is evident there is appetite for participating in greater European integration with the rest of Europe.
And what of the Monarchy itself. I have previously declared myself a republican in principle and anti the continuation of inherited titles and the giving of Titles which go against all notions of equality and democracy, but I am also realistic and practical. The last weekend will do much for Tourism and should help to overcome the dark economic days ahead with prolonged high unemployment, stagnating general living standards for the majority and deteriorating standards for many. Success of Murray in Paris and at Wimbledon, that of the English and Irish football teams and the Olympic Games should help to boast morale and avoid the rioting of last summer.
As long as there is some economic, financial and social stability, the future of monarchy remains secure. The call can quickly change particularly when the Queen dies. If Charles and Camilla continue in the same spirit and approach of the past week he could still get his turn if that is what he still wants. William and Kate looks a sif they are being prepared to follow on when the call comes and Bill to allow their first child to succeed if she is daughter is going through Parliament in the current session. But in my view much will depend on the press particularly the gutter press.
The overall approach has been excellent and I have even purchased the Daily Mail because their colour supplements appeared among the best. On Tuesday the Mail appeared determined to incense the majority of its regular readers with an amazing attack on the Duchess of Cambridge claiming her red dress was an attempt to upstage her grandmother in law. The article went under the name of the malicious Queen Bitch of Fleet Street. Today’s edition attempt to redress this extraordinary public relations disaster by praising her outfit of yesterday. I suggest that future of the monarchy is less to do with how they behave or the fervour of the general public but in the hands of the scum editors and their owners, especially if they are chilled by the Leveson and the politicians for their lies and deceits.
I visited the Mall and central London a day after the VE celebrations and there was a huge crowd just walking the route. There have been remarkable demonstrations of sympathy and support for the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill, King George VI, and the Queen mother, with to a lesser extent that of the Princess Margaret and her grandmother Queen Mary of Teck. The funeral of Princess Diana eclipsed all those that went before although this had a distinct anti monarchy republican feel during which time the Queen managed to prevent a permanent rupture by her address on TV and the unprecedented appearance of the women folk at the Palace Gates.
In happier times the Weddings of herself and her sister, and that of all her children also attracted international interest and national support but none of these events matched the spontaneous and genuine fervour of the extended weekend.
There remains several extraordinary images from the river pageant. The first being the sight of some two hundred and fifty manned crafts led by the Venetian decorated barge rowed by Sir Steve Red grave and Matthew Pincent and a number of service men who had been wounded in recent conflicts. The inspiration for this gathering was a Canaletto picture of an event in the Grand Canal. While at times the camera showed a higgle piggle of boats some trying go avoid clashing others it was a splendid sight and no mean feat to row or paddle some seven miles along the Thames at four knots plus tidal effect of two more. The tide had been controlled by the raising of the Thames barrier earlier in the day and although there was a strong breeze and heavy skies the rain kept off these craft until the final lap.
In front of Sir Steve was a power barge on which were placed eight giant bells inviting the churches along the way to join in.
The second memorable sight was that of the Royal Barge, a working barge converted into a sumptuous boat with gilded figures at the front and plenty of red plush under clever canopies which provided all round view of the three generations of Royals who were to feature together throughout the weekend, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, her eldest son and his second wife, she divorced and he a widower, and the still recently married eldest son of the Prince of Wales and his wife.
The third is that in part because of the weather and to avoid a negative regal effect, the Queen and her husband stood the entire journey of some four fours avoiding the seats. Having stood for a similar period of hours at the Stadium of Light last summer I appreciated the just how amazing was this feet for individuals aged 90 and 86. It is likely to have contributed to the Duke requiring to be cared for in hospital with a urinary tract infection and missing subsequent events. It is important to remember he recovered from heart surgery over Christmas which he also spent in hospital.
Princes Anne in her official capacity together with her husband and children led the powered craft who were divided into section each led by a vessel playing music of some kind. Being on the river without microphones it was difficult to appreciate much of the music until the end when the full BBC Orchestra and a choir of young talented singers with individual quality and power electrified the listeners with a last night of the Proms Rule Britannia, a jig followed by the National Anthem and which drew applause from the Royal gathering.
Prince Andrew and his two excited daughters were on another splendidly decorated barge along with the Mayor of London and his wife, other dignitaries. I cannot remember Prince Edward being identified as being on the pageant.
There were 1000 craft in all participating including a range of tall ships moored before Tower Bridge to welcome the Royal Barges as they moored to witness the rest of the craft passing by and which took over an hour, These included a number of boats who had participated in returning over three hundred thousands allied troops back from the beaches of Dunkirk. There were narrow boats from the canals unused to the open fast flowing Thames and flotilla of the large tourist cruisers and well as the working vessels with some five hundred registered Lightermen remaining from the fifty thousand who once earned their livelihoods along the great river in an around the pool of London. Now the remaining professionals often from families with a history of river service pilot convoys of large barges filled with rubbish from the city to a dump in Essex. Immediately behind the Royal barge were boats representing all 46 members of the Commonwealth.
The other lasting images included the impressive crowds who lined the banks in their tens and hundreds of thousands braving cold driving rain which developed as the afternoon progressed.
There was a huge 100 metre black and white photo of the Royal family standing on the central balcony of Buckingham Palace at the time of the Silver Jubilee thirty five years before covering the side one Thames embankment building. Passing the National Theatre was a visual display on the walls of the building and the company had moved the puppet horse from the play War Horse from the auditorium to the roof tot he delight of the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth has always had a great love of horses and liked to ride whenever she could, She had attended the Epsom Derby as the weekend celebrations commenced and along with Ascot these six days of racing are among the invioble in her calendar of events although it is said she will take the opportunity of a visit to Sandown, Newmarket and other Greater London courses if the opportunity arises. This is because she has always had a number of racing thoroughbreds in training and competing when considered appropriate.
The previous weekend there had been an assembly of representatives of the armed forces in the grounds of Windsor Castle and in the evening a lavish display of horsemanship from around the world including from Mexico and South America, from Italy, France and Spain, and from the USA. The group of white stallions was amazing, The programme was shown on ITV in the evening of the pageant.
Along with several million others I had applied for two of the 10000 tickets for seats at the evening concert and where in addition the lucky ones were invited into the gardens of the Buckingham Palace for a picnic which each paid of guests receiving a picnic hamper which included a most attractive red Royal crested hamper guard. Several of the hampers, mostly empty but some with an item of contents are already on E bay with prices ranging from £46 with bids and several hours/days to go to £200 instant and some and selling separately their programmes which were included in the hamper free with the highest bid £23 plus post although there is a Buy it now unused copies for under £10. The hamper also included two ponchos in cases and which have also gone on sale separately around £50 plus individual items such as tickets, hand wipes, menus, chocolate and cup cake.
As with all such occasions where the attempt is made to appeal to different ages and musical taste the overall effect of the music can be disappointing but in this instance while the song choice of some of the artists can be questioned the overall impact was sensational. There were several features which contributed to this.
The concert was held outside Buckingham Palace with the instantly demountable stage set on the Queen Victoria Statue roundabout in an extended semi circle to enable the two banks of five thousand seats on either side of he Mall to have good views together with the Mall itself filled with over one hundred people watching on large screens on either side of the wide thoroughfare. The third aspect of the concert was the use of the front of Buckingham Palace to project images. The Royal box at back behind one of the stands was also of great interests with the younger Royals clearly enjoying themselves with Princess Anne joining in at times while others looked out of place especially the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Robbie Williams commenced proceedings with Let me Entertain you together with a Royal Fanfare and the Coldstream Guards. Elton John wearing glittering cerise jacket commenced with I’m still standing while a gaunt looking Sir Cliff Richards sang a medley covering his sixty years of popular music singing. Dame Shirley Bassey naturally sang Diamonds are Forever after Sir Tom Jones now looking distinguished also performed. Alfie Boe sang a duet with Renée Fleming from an end balcony of the Palace while Lang Lang did a virtuoso bring the house down type of piano piece. Who else? JLS was there as was Cheryl Cole singing with Gary Barlow Wil I Am with Jessie J, Jools Holland with Ruby Turner, Ed Sheeran, Annie Lenox wearing Angels wings with members of the orchestra and backing singers sang, Must be an Angel, Kylie Minogue in a Pearly Queen outfit was a success and Stevie Wonder made his contribution before Sir Paul McCartney rounded off the evening‘s three hour show..
The three memorable performances commenced with Grace Jones in an extraordinary tight fitting outfit who successfully managed a Hula Hoop round her waist throughout her Slave to the Rhythm number at the age of 64. The second was memorable performance was that of Gary Barlow and the especially commissioned Jubilee Tribute number created by him and Andrew Lloyd Webber and with 200 musicians and singers. I had enjoyed a 55 minute programme the previous evening on how the song was created. The track lasts 3 minutes 20 seconds although it is included with five other tracks on an extended play album which should be delivered via Amazon tomorrow.
To please the Queen Gary travelled to Australia for the Sydney Opera Orchestra, to Jamaica and to Africa where he includes a street drumming band, to a rain soaked tropical island for a church choir together with a boy’s choir from Africa included along with a blind African singer with a beautiful soprano voice. The principal singers are the representatives from the forces wives choirs which have grown to 46. The main record called Sing is pleasant enough but it is how it came about which remains important.
The outstanding performance was not Madness who appeared on the roof of the palace performing Our House but the way the palace Palace was transformed in terraced housing and then a block of flats.
The Queen appeared well wrapped against the elements around Nine and then at Ten Thirty as the concert ended she appeared on stage led by Gary Barlow. The Prince of Wales made an excellent short speech endearing him by calling her mummy and she pressed a giant diamond into a unit to Light the national beacon the final of 4000 lit with sixty across Hadrian’s Wall, with one at South Shields. The final fireworks were outstanding bringing and excellent evening to an end.
The concert was introduced by a number of comics including Lenny Henry who commented about the white imbalance and Peter Kaye dressed as a Beefeater. One of the hosts made a great comment about the Culture Secretary deleting emails which although inappropriate for the evening was most enjoyable and timely.
The Culture Secretary was evident at the service of thanks giving at St Paul’s where the Queen was driven by car and then on to the Palace of Westminster where a great lunch for 700 was held by the City Livery companies. The Archbishop of Canterbury made pointed comments about excessive greed at time of national economic retrenchment, unemployment and poverty. The previous Dean of St Paul’s had resigned over the way the protestors against the banks and capitalism had brought the country to its knees and been removed from the ground outside the Cathedral and had been allowed to use facilities within the church. The action condemned the Church of England as representing the predominantly White upper and ruling class establishment.
A vast and joyous crowd assembled in the Mall and along the route from the Palace of Westminster to Trafalgar Square, and through Admiralty Arch and along St James’s Park to the Palace, in order to greet the Queen accompanied by her eldest son and his wife and followed by William, his wife and Harry, in full morning dress and two of the state carriages. There should have been three with the Queen with him husband and Charles and his wife separately.
Once the Royals reached the Palace there was that spectacular slow assembly of the populace down the Mall to the Gates for an appearance of the Queen, her eldest son and his sons on the balcony. It was evident that she and the other members of the Party were well pleased with the noise and enthusiasm. There was a small fly past compared to that at Windsor for the Drumhead service which included traditional Battle of Britain planes and the Red Arrrows trailing Red White and Blue smoke, despite the low cloud and the commencement of rain. Suddenly the celebrations came to an and everyone went home
The number of families, often with several generations had been conspicuous together with the numbers and enthusiasm of the crowds in general. Of the Royal Family the Queen behaved as always expected but said she was humbled by the response which provided her with memories to last the rest of her lifetime in a short broadcast last night. Prince Charles is showing a relaxed humour these days which is endearing to many who still blame him for the unhappiness of Princess of Diana. His wife has learned not to make speeches and appears dutiful and supporting although his accession will pose a problem for her. William and Kate remain the popular choice to take over although whether this would be acceptable to the Queen, Charles or Willia, is not likely to be disclosed in my lifetime and I am increasingly less likely to find out what happens given the Queen’s continuing good state of health with every indication of having to send herself a congratulatory 100th birthday photo card. So is there to a lasting legacy?
It has to be said that a substantial representation of white England demonstrated a patriotic nationalism I have not witnessed since the end of the second World War and is worth further consideration of why. I must stress the skin colour issue if you take for example the turn out for the Notting hill Carnival. As the controversial Historian David Starkie suggested in one TV appearance on Tuesday the Union with Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland is a fragile one and there was no reference to special trains from Wales or Scotland hired to bring people for yesterday. The Derby, the Pageant and Concert all had their particular audiences but there would have been few travelling from far afield unless to support members of their families participating or had gained one of the 5000 pairs of concert tickets or were already holidaying in the capital which will have accounted for many of those said to represent the direct involvement of th far flung concerns of the former empire/ I therefore stick with the assertion that this was a show of pro Monarch and nationalist loyalty from predominantly white England.
I also suggest that the demonstrations can be regarded as another slap at our present generation of political leaders. The manner and demeanour of Queen Elizabeth is in stark contrast to that of Cameron, Osborn, and Hunt ( Boris gets away it because he projects himself as one of the boys. That an unselected woman of part German origin can command such public support should sound a further warning that they and the previous Labour Party got it wrong, however politically and economically well intentioned, in understanding how far they could push the white population in directions considered desirable and at times necessary. This I also suggest remains the position and Cameron and the Coalition remain on probation, although it also has to be admitted so does the Labour alternative.
I believe that this explains while a majority in England would be quite happy to see Scotland, Wales and Ireland go their own way and why another majority would vote to exit the European Community if given the opportunity. The flag waving nationalism of the past week will have been nectar to anti Europeans. Also I suspect that the majority of the rest of the UK will not tolerate politicians supporting the idea of a European political Union which includes the any part of the UK ( but which I believe is essential for European economic survival although not necessarily for the UK) or for financially supporting the Euro and the countries dependent upon it.
I also contend that a substantial section of the Tory Party is likely to split from Cameron if he does not give greater anti European greater signals, especially if Labour under Ed Miliband looks as if it is going to cash on this sentiment prevalent on the streets and in the pubs. Cameron cannot do this because of the Coalition except that the possibility of a Coalition separation before the run up to the General Election is also possible with the Lib Dems separating themselves from their tarnished leader, however much he has been and remains a moderating influence on Tory polices to the right of centre. The Daily Mail has reported that Vince Cable is the leader of colleagues having preliminary discussions with Labour on forming a different looking Coalition in 2015 of the election results produces another coalition situation.
The reason why England and the rest of UK, if it remains politically and economically tied, has a chance, albeit a risky chance, of surviving outside a European Political Union, is because of our ties with the USA, our efforts to establish a basis for trade with China and Russia and the continuation of the Queen as the head of the Commwealth, especially our links with India, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, together with our involvement in the Middle east and North Africa, especially our with respect to Arab money. However in order to survive we would need to retain strong economic and financial links with the rest of Europe and this will pose a problem if we are outside any political changes, but which fortunately will take a decade or more achieve. I believe that recent days may push politicians further along this risk road but which may become necessary as it is evident there is appetite for participating in greater European integration with the rest of Europe.
And what of the Monarchy itself. I have previously declared myself a republican in principle and anti the continuation of inherited titles and the giving of Titles which go against all notions of equality and democracy, but I am also realistic and practical. The last weekend will do much for Tourism and should help to overcome the dark economic days ahead with prolonged high unemployment, stagnating general living standards for the majority and deteriorating standards for many. Success of Murray in Paris and at Wimbledon, that of the English and Irish football teams and the Olympic Games should help to boast morale and avoid the rioting of last summer.
As long as there is some economic, financial and social stability, the future of monarchy remains secure. The call can quickly change particularly when the Queen dies. If Charles and Camilla continue in the same spirit and approach of the past week he could still get his turn if that is what he still wants. William and Kate looks a sif they are being prepared to follow on when the call comes and Bill to allow their first child to succeed if she is daughter is going through Parliament in the current session. But in my view much will depend on the press particularly the gutter press.
The overall approach has been excellent and I have even purchased the Daily Mail because their colour supplements appeared among the best. On Tuesday the Mail appeared determined to incense the majority of its regular readers with an amazing attack on the Duchess of Cambridge claiming her red dress was an attempt to upstage her grandmother in law. The article went under the name of the malicious Queen Bitch of Fleet Street. Today’s edition attempt to redress this extraordinary public relations disaster by praising her outfit of yesterday. I suggest that future of the monarchy is less to do with how they behave or the fervour of the general public but in the hands of the scum editors and their owners, especially if they are chilled by the Leveson and the politicians for their lies and deceits.
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