Via live internet streaming, I was able to watch yesterday's amazing Diamond Jubilee Concert from the front of Buckingham Palace in London. How well-choreographed the whole event was, how spectacular the closing fireworks and how benevolent the weather gods were. Rippling through the thronging crowds was a reaffirmation of British people's pride in their influential little nation with its proud history, its beauty and its stalwart character.
I must say that having emigrated so far from home, I felt a lump in my throat and it wasn't the roasted taro and grilled John Dory I had ordered at the social club bar. My whole life has been lived within the bounds of Elizabeth's reign and as she has aged so have I. The Diamond Jubilee has not been solely a celebration of her sixty years on the throne but a recognition of Britain's place in the world, our spirit and the special bonds that exist within our commonwealth of nations - from Tuvalu to Trinidad, New Zealand to New Brunswick, Canberra to Cape Town.
In these times of economic gloom, enmity and terrorist outrage it's nice to have such a good news story - the life of Elizabeth II:-
The fireworks were excellent and I liked the light show projected on Buck House, especially when Madness sang Our House. Paul McCartney was a bit screechy though and the comedians weren't particularly funny, with the exception of Peter Kay. I would have liked to have seen the traditionally British Mexican wave that would have been appropriate to the occasion, but the BBC cut away at that point.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteIf looked at long enough and intently enough, that first photograph becomes a fascinator worthy of being worn by the princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
We watched an hour-long special last week here in the former colonies in which our Katie Couric interviewed Charles's sons and Andrew's daughters about their granny. Andrew was interviewed briefly; Charles was seen but not heard.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me why Anne's adult children, Peter and Zara, and for that matter Anne herself and also Edward (maker of documentaries) would not have been interviewed as well? They were not even mentioned.
PARROTMAN I don't think the sound system was spot on but I agree that Sir Paul and Sir Elton for that matter are both struggling to hit the notes they used to take in their stride. Sir Tom's range is perhaps less ambitious. How long till Sir Gary?
ReplyDeleteRHYMES WITH...Probably they didn't interview Edward, Anne and her children because they had other engagements and were unavailable. Unlike yours - some people's lives do not revolve around the demands of film crews. I don't believe that any of them have converted to Islam.
I find the continuity of your monarchy a comforting thing in contrast to the extreme ups and downs of politics.
ReplyDeletemuch has been said about the Queen being a constant in peoples' lives.... and ain't it just the truth!
ReplyDeletestability, continuity and the no nonsense bad temper of Prince Philip!
I'll take that over a bloody President ANYTIME
shame about Cliff Richard though - guy looks and sounds like a horror story!!
ReplyDeleteMr Fox - I'll have you know that I was once in love with Cliff Richard. Mind you, I was only six and "Summer Holiday" was the first film I ever saw. I'd grown out of him by the time I was seven, obviously.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, I was also in love with Clip Pritchard (as I used to call him when I was little).
ReplyDeleteI missed all the visual stuff the last weekend as I was chatting up potential clients at the exhibition. However on Monday morning I caught a lovely recording on the car radio of the Princess Elizabeth aged 11 (or maybe it was 14) in 1940, with a recording of her talking to the children on the BBC children's programme. Absolutely delightful. 'My sister Margaret Rose and I, would like to tell you all, that we are doing our very best best, to stay joyful and optimistic at this time, and we know, in our hearts, that all the children of the Empire, join with us...' etc etc.