QEII Platinum Jubilee

[Shiner]

I do not mean to cause controversy but I have been watching the interactions between Charles and Camilla all weekend and I'm feeling some frost. Or Charles is just not as gracious with his "darling wife" than we are often led to believe. Is anyone else noticing. Of course they are both professionals and won't let the side down. But something is making me sad to see Camilla often talking to herself and getting no to little reaction from Charles and a warmer interaction with her stepson. Not just the parade all weekend.

Charles has seemed a bit tired at points. The Queens involvement has been miraculous at the age of 96, but Charles himself is getting beyond an age when such a weekend of events wouldn’t need a month off to recover from.

Do you think that's all it is? I hope so. He is normally so solicitous of her. And a charming man in general.

I don’t think things are frosty between them I think Charles now has to weight of the world on his shoulders for a few reasons.

• He has no doubt been faced with the Queen’s mortality since Philip passed away but also probably his own mortality. Having just lost his father it cannot be easy to see him mom slowing down now. Mentally the Queen still seems sharp as a tack but physically there has been a decline that is apparent to all.
• He is 73 and has been training for his job for 70 years. When other gents his age are retiring he’s still waiting take his place.
• No doubt he worries about the state of the monarchy after the Queen passes. He knows he’s not well liked and Cams isn’t beloved either and that too has to make him worry. He knows he will never see and/or receive the reception that the Queen received over the past few days.

I’d assume he thinks about these things in some form or fashion regularly but the events of this weekend have probably magnified them for him and he’s really in his feelings right now.

[emtishell]

I loved HM bright green on the balcony, and also noticed the green flag in the middle of the crowd - can someone enlighten me as to the significance?

[Countess of Cows]

  Hi Shiner Welcome!

I agree, He's certainly lost in his own thoughts at times.  Thoughts of his own mortality and the affection for his Mummy have to weigh in the whole experience. 

[LadyBunion]

I loved HM bright green on the balcony, and also noticed the green flag in the middle of the crowd - can someone enlighten me as to the significance?

I am sure the green was so that she could be picked out and seen from a distance - she is tiny and this would make her be more visible

[Hester]

I loved HM bright green on the balcony, and also noticed the green flag in the middle of the crowd - can someone enlighten me as to the significance?

She’s converted to Roman Catholicism…

[luvcharles]

I loved HM bright green on the balcony, and also noticed the green flag in the middle of the crowd - can someone enlighten me as to the significance?

She’s converted to Roman Catholicism…

Instant abdication if she has.

[Maria]

I loved HM bright green on the balcony, and also noticed the green flag in the middle of the crowd - can someone enlighten me as to the significance?

It’s the regional flag of Devon.

[Hester]

I loved HM bright green on the balcony, and also noticed the green flag in the middle of the crowd - can someone enlighten me as to the significance?

She’s converted to Roman Catholicism…

Instant abdication is she has.

😹 True! Well that’s one way to hand over to Charles!

[Hester]

Wrong thread

[Hester]

I have enjoyed the photos to see what everyone is wearing etc etc (generally only Kate looked good) but in reality - and I know my opinion will not be popular - it all went on too long and I understand people cheering someone for being still alive and many have never known another head of state etc but the whole idea of a 'life of service' and 'never putting a foot wrong' that is like a script recited by so many on tv this week, it makes no sense to me. She has had a very privileged life, and I will never understand this mindless adoration of a person and especially when it is transferred to her offsprings and for what. I suppose because I am an atheist I have trouble with it, this worship, because I have never felt it.

I wish her well and I hope she has no pain from the troublesome discs in her back or whatever she suffers. It looked like she said - on the balcony - 'I suppose I'd better wave' and that made me laugh even if I imagined it.

Rather than dragging the Queen, maybe research her life and what she has done for us. For the Commonwealth in particular. Not sure what being an atheist has to do with it. She is admired and revered, not worshipped. She so utterly deserved a four-day party! As for your “I suppose I’d better wave” put-down- it’s hard to dignify it with a response but I will. She was clearly deeply moved. The Queen is never flippant. She looks to have difficulty holding her arm up for a long wave. She is approaching one hundred years on this planet. Feel free to spend the next while insulting her, and then her legacy. But note that you and Scobie are outnumbered by billions!

[Hester]

Dear administrators, wouldn't this be the right moment to merge the Wills/Kate threads into the Britain section? They are doing quite a decent job now and the  "abandon all hope" header has become a little rude, especially since the threads about their innocent little kids are included.

Just a proposition, no offense meant.

I agree. Will and Kate have come such a long way!

You are right!

[TLLK]

I think you go off the rails with describing this as mindless adoration as if those celebrating are stupid about what they are doing. I think people can realize that she is a privileged person without ever having to worry about paying bills or being fed and still see that she has done something extraordinary with a 70 year career which most civilians don't have and we have to work. She is a professional and a lot of fun and we've gotten glimpses of both. I think what also gets lost is that she is consummately British and that revs peoples motors too. She is a symbol of what a lot of people think is the best of Britain and as she gets older and her generation goes away there is a reverence in some quarters and a nostalgia in others for it. This is a very British phenomenon.

perwinkle for putting into very eloquent terms how I felt about this weekend's Platinum Jubilee.

[LadyBunion]

I think you go off the rails with describing this as mindless adoration as if those celebrating are stupid about what they are doing. I think people can realize that she is a privileged person without ever having to worry about paying bills or being fed and still see that she has done something extraordinary with a 70 year career which most civilians don't have and we have to work. She is a professional and a lot of fun and we've gotten glimpses of both. I think what also gets lost is that she is consummately British and that revs peoples motors too. She is a symbol of what a lot of people think is the best of Britain and as she gets older and her generation goes away there is a reverence in some quarters and a nostalgia in others for it. This is a very British phenomenon.

perwinkle for putting into very eloquent terms how I felt about this weekend's Platinum Jubilee.

It is very much a British Moment - we  have them every so often, it is fine in fact it probably does us good - am sure we  will be feeling better & have recovered by the end of the week. The bunting and union jack napkins will be on offer in the shops and it must be time for Wimbledon or something

I am a huge supporter of the Queen but have managed to avoid TV coverage of her 25,50,60 and now 70th jubilee I find it a bit cheesy but love looking at photos later

[SvenskaSarah]

Just some final thoughts on the jubilee weekend as a whole.

During the Pageant yesterday I noticed various themes such as 'unity', 'hope', 'optimism' clearly outlined. Most of these things are quite future-thinking. Whilst the Jubilee has been undoubtedly a celebration of Her Majesty's life and reign, for me there was a significant weighting on the future. Combined with how much we saw of Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and even George and Charlotte compared to Her Majesty (which I'm sure wasn't planned), I feel like this jubilee has been one of the Queen reminding us all of the great things about being part of the Commonwealth, and how this can still be very much enjoyed when Charles, William and George are King. It is an interesting balance and by showing that the Queen did not need to attend every single event for all to enjoy and celebrate shows the power and public favour for the monarchy even when Charles is spearheading it.

This may come as a sugary post (definitely not intended!) but I have really enjoyed the lack of morbidity of the realisation that this will likely be the last jubilee of any kind for a long time, and instead there has been a celebration of a lifelong reign, and fervent support for the future of the monarchy and the individuals who will be at the helm of it.

[Thistle]

Nanny Maria was at the royal box, just a few rows behind the royals and keeping an eye on the kids






She left with Louis when he became too tired and restless.