As the main weekend of Jubilee celebrations has
approached it has been impressive to see ever more shops, pubs, houses
and public spaces being decked out with Union flags and bunting and stylish shop window
displays with books and commemorative items, often with affectionate
humour involved in their design and display.
This
suggests a quiet and very typically understated British way of
celebrating such events as Jubilees and Royal Weddings - we slightly
surpise ourselves at our patriotic display and enthusiasm, but keep it
within the best of decorum and dignity - very like the Monarch and
Monarchy we are celebrating.
Therein is part of
the key - this celebration is about us as well as about Her Majesty,
because we sense that somehow we are part of this rather
mysterious institution that we periodically realise is not just how to
choose a head of state, but incorporates our history and institutions,
our identity and personality. The Monarchy is not just a family and a
way of governing, it is also us. When we say Britain, or rather the
United Kingdom, is a Monarchy we actually mean something much more than
the presence of the Monarch and her family - we are speaking of
ourselves as a national community.
No doubt
some at least of the bunting and flags will stay in place to encourage
UK competitors at the Olympics. However, and I hope the London 2012
people will not be too upset by my saying this, I doubt if people feel
for the Olympics what they sense about the Queen and her Jubilee. Yes,
we may well, ironically, become couch potatoes and watch the
competitions, but, let's be honest, for all the popularist hype, the
Olympics are, of their very nature, infinitely more eliteist than the
Jubilee - and who had
heard of anyone organising a street-party to mark them?
Image:aldbourne.net
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