to let my ten-year-old DD dress as an anarchist for the royal wedding?

[cinnamontoast]

At DD's school they've been asked to dress like royalty for a day to celebrate the royal wedding. Felt slightly sick at the thought of all those little princesses and, knowing my DD is distinctly anti-girly and not especially pro-royal, I suggested she go as a republican. Oliver Cromwell is tricky to do (suit of armour, anyone?), so we settled on an anarchist - all in black, anarchy symbol splashed on T-shirt, bomb etc. Now I'm wondering if it's a bit inappropriate and in bad taste. Maybe I should lighten up a bit about royalty? Otoh, she REALLY doesn't want to be a queen or a princess, it's just not her style.

Well, you do send your daughter to school, that's a bit conformist I think. DD could go as the prince. You may have made a bit of a mistake by foisting projecting your beliefs onto a 10 year old. Could you not just allow her to experience being part of a group, without having to make a political point? I think 10 is a bit young to understand the nuances of the history of the Monarchy. If you are intent on using your daughter to demonstrate your own beliefs, then I think you should also be prepared to explain to her Regicide and Cromwell's posthumous execution

what about a French revolutionary, with a mob cap and red white and blue sash and 'Liberte, egalite, fraternite'?

I like the idea of dressing up as an anti-Royal but think the anarchist with a bomb is a bit tasteless.

Take everyone's point about the bomb being bad taste (we weren't planning a real one...). I suggested it as a joke but DD loves it. It was the bomb that worried me most.

It is a bit in bad taste. Kinda similar to wearing full on black funeral clothes to a wedding when you don't agree with it.

Also, 10 year olds can be notoriously mean and if your DD stands out line a sore thumb she may have a bit of a miserable day.

I agree with previous posters, she doesn't have to go in full on pink n glittery princess Barbie gear. A lot of our Royals are millitary/horsey, dress her as a fighter pilot or jockey.

Line? Like!

Driftwood, I really haven't foisted my beliefs on to her. She very definitely has a mind of her own. But we do agree on the whole royal thing being yuk. And yes, she knows about Charles I and Cromwell's posthumous fate - DS explained it to her in glorious technicolour.

You could staple lots of beer mats to a T shirt and send her as The Queen Vic.

What about Britannia? Regal but not royal.

A frog prince?

Babette Coles Princess Smartypants?

Dress her up as Sarah Palin- she's a republican

Well make sure you provide her with a molatov cocktail and a few bricks while you're at it.

, grovel!

at least they're going to school! ours have a blimmin day off because of it.

if it was HER idea and she desperately wanted to do it then I'd say yes, go for it.
but you know, I don't think it's a great idea.

if you don't want to dress as royalty then just send her in regular clothes. no big deal... you don't have to turn it into a big anti-monarchy statement

I would feel strongly enough to a) have a chat with the Head b) keep my dcs off school for the day. When is this happening anyway? Surely they are off on the day itself anyway. Maybe they should have just gone with a fancy dress/ party theme.

I think I'd feel the same as both you and HER to be honest. But she will stick out BADLY.

How about Anne Boleyn with a head under her arm. That'd be funny and in with the theme and not that different from the other girls.

Or the Queen Mum with fake teeth (or would that also be in REALLY poor taste?)

wahwahwah - I like the suggestion of Britannia, don't think that would go down well with OP though. Far too patriotic and she is being phased out for that reason.

Have you asked your DD what she would like to do?

If you really feel opposed to this then talk to the school. I am sure you are not the only one. Perhaps they will have something else arranged for the children who don't (or whose parents don't) want them to join in the royal wedding celebrations. Children can be opted out of religious practices at school so this is similar I suppose. Yes, she'll miss out, but that's the down side of sending your child to mainstream school.

Why anyone would encourage their child to wear something with bomb on it strikes me as rather strange.

We're talking queens.
Dressing up as Elton might be fun. Or, if the politics are important, as Mandelson.

I think it misrepresents anarchism to send her with a bomb. It is primarily a philosophical perspective on society and an ethical social movement.

I wouldn't be happy with my child celebrating the royal wedding, but neither would I want her to represent a movement she didn't understand.

I'd send her as a punk - if she wanted to go as one that is.

IIRC I know where you live (as in town - not street!!!!!) and honestly, nobody would bat an eyelid or think you're idiots. In fact I'd hazard a guess and say someone else will be dressed along similar lines. Which is why I love living here. :)

Haven't got a problem with patriotism, just royalty, which is misplaced patriotism in my book. I'm really not that hardline - loved The King's Speech (though thought it showed the royal family up as pretty dysfunctional).

It's not on the day of the wedding itself, by the way. They probably have to take in a quid for the PTA - must check.

It would make me laugh! In a good way.

I think the bomb is in very poor taste, but then I am Irish........so very recent history for us. If I saw a kid making a statement about blowing things up i'd think their parents were arseholes.

Sorry...

YABU. if you don't want her to do the Royal dressing up stuff, send her in school uniform.
Is she going to smash windows and spray graffitti while dressed in her "anarchy" gear?

Don't know if you've a primark near you but they've some great t-shirts in there - including a Sex Pistols style ' never mind the wedding - thanks for the day off' sort of thing ;)