Costly affair: UK marks Queen’s diamond jubilee amid crisis

Published time: June 04, 2012 19:44
Edited time: June 04, 2012 23:44
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II waves as she travels aboard the Royal Barge 'Spirit of Chartwell' in the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London, on June 3, 2012. (AFP Photo/Glyn Kirk)
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Pompous festivities are taking place throughout Britain this long weekend with millions celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee. But some found it hard to get festive among the job cuts, slashed wages, petrol hikes and rising education costs.

Some experts predicted that Britons would spend over a billion dollars on patriotic purchases such as hats, flags and different jubilee memorabilia.

The amount of money spent on the celebrations remains undisclosed but is likely to equal the annual budget of a small country. The weekend celebrations included the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant consisting of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK and a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace.

Some feel that the money could have been better spent with the country now in a crisis and slashing public services and introducing drastic cuts.

“It’s kind of disgusting to be perfectly honest. We’re in the midst of a double-dip recession, people are really feeling the pinch, with wage freezes, unemployment. The standard of living is really suffering but yet our queen has made no acknowledgement of that,” said Andrew Child, a director of the campaign group, Republic.

The authorities have repeatedly emphasized that the jubilee celebration is for everyone, urging people to take part in festivities. But among those who took to the streets some did so for quite different purposes.

“They say the jubilee is for everyone but if it was really for everyone, we’d be celebrating by balancing the inequality of power and wealth in this country. Instead we’re celebrating monarchy, armed forces, obscene levels of wealth and all at a time of austerity – this is not a celebration of the British people,” said activist Simon Hill.

For more on the story watch RT’s Sarah Firth’s report from London.

Comments (28)

Peter Jennings (unregistered) 07.06.2012 17:10

For all you pro-monarchy children out there, one thing to remember.

The queen is quite happy to read what parliament puts in her lap at the time of the queens speech and she doesn't bat an eyelid when reading to the nation how our taxes are to be raised, how our benefits will be cut or scrapped, how our public companies will be sold to the highest bidder, how our financial system will make paupers out of millions of "subjects", how our politicians will make war.
Then it's off for lunch and forget the whole sorry business until next year.

I am neither a royalist or an anti-royalist and believe this queen does provide a service to the nation, but before anyone writes in to tell me that her hands are tied in such matters, I say she is the head of state and knows what is going on behind the scenes, end of.
Oh, and Prince Philip wants to come back as a virus and wipe out all the commoners. That includes you and all your family, friends, etc...

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Billy J Kramer (unregistered) 07.06.2012 09:24

There is nothing wrong with the Queen as a person...she like horses and looks the part in her guilded carriage and may provide an escape from the real world. But its the real world thats important....not occasional royal events for national pride sessions. The monarchy is a business and its for show only. The Queen knights people she likes and allocates MBE Members of the British Empire medals to various people that have "served the crown" like the BEATLES. Its all harmless stuff and makes everyone happy but it does not really serve any meaningful purpose given its cost to the taxpayer. Why have such a monarchy with no empire. King Charles 3 may answer all these questions...because he is not seen as a natural born leader....or a man of the people. Pity because he is probably a very charming person...rejected by the Queen who will never abdicate until she is 101. 

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Paranoia is bad- This news site is shite (unregistered) 06.06.2012 22:00

I feel I should add something resembling balance to this unlikely conspiracy, lest you lot all lose your heads, and end up paranoid even at your deathbeds...                                                                                                                                                                              My cousin works as a Royal Doorman at Buckingham Palace and has done so for 27 years. I have been invited to visit the palace (provided with a special entry pass, and entering through a side door) about 6 times and had a little look around the magnificent building- I have gone so far as to ascend the grand staircase and have seen the Queen's bedroom and the balcony overlooking the Mall.                                                                                                                                     My cousin (whom I will not name) has met with the queen many times and is proud to say he is most definitely on friendly terms with her majesty. He recalls with fondness how he shares common loves of horses and classical music- and has spoke numerous times about the weather, charities and the war.                                                                                                                                      Now, my cousin is probably the most generous, kind and trustworthy person one could ever hope to know, which perfectly explains her majesty's fondness for him. She too cares deeply for people, of love and life. In fact, I don't give a damn about whether she is rightfully Queen- she does a better job than anyone else would, and the world is better off for it!                                                                                                                       Anyway, the point I am making is that the Queen has no evil agenda- she is kindhearted and good. Conspiracy theorists ought to ACTUALLY learn something through personal experiences rather than believe what they read. Theorists should start enjoying life- give up the stupid paranoia of conspiracies and gods and demons. They don't exist!

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