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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is frankly ridiculous? (warning, Royal Bloody Wedding related)

178 replies

QueenOfFlippingEverything · 03/04/2011 21:50

DD's school, not content with having the day off for the Royal Bloody Wedding, are staging a mock-up of the event the day beforehand.

We have been asked to donate flowers. They want us to attend in our 'best finery - don't forget your hats'. The local church is hosting this charade Hmm

What a waste of sodding time and money Angry I mean FFS.

OP posts:
Lucyinthepie · 03/04/2011 23:00

You can get God Save the Queen T shirts on EBay (a la Sex Pistols).

Garcia10 · 03/04/2011 23:01

TalkinPeace2 "skinit -
I guess its just that "we are all in this together" does not tally with best part of £100,000,000.00 of taxpayer money being spent on the wedding of two people, one of whose Nan could well afford to foot the whole bill."

Is it really costing us taxpayers a hundred million pounds!! Have you got a link to this?

hmc · 03/04/2011 23:02

"It's not about being miserable, skinit. It's about not wanting to be forced into a display of forelock-tugging servitude. I really don't give a crap about their wedding. They seem a nice couple and good luck to them and all that but fuck's sake. "

You put it beautifully marmalade Grin

Our PTA has organised a picnic on the village green to celebrate the event - fancy dress encouraged. I'm thinking of attending as Oliver Cromwell

BeerTricksPotter · 03/04/2011 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edam · 03/04/2011 23:07

Love the Oliver Cromwell idea. Or how about Wallis Simpson? Grin

yellowkiwi · 03/04/2011 23:19

I think you will find a lot of schools are doing similar things as they see it as good way to use the two days. I'm not a monarchist by any means but it is part of our history and culture. Don't you think that children should have a chance to learn about the current royal family just as they would learn about the Tudors or other historical royals?

BeerTricksPotter · 03/04/2011 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ihavewelliesbuttheyrenotgreen · 03/04/2011 23:28

Perhaps they'll learn not to be so moany

Dancergirl · 03/04/2011 23:33

Don't you think that children should have a chance to learn about the current royal family just as they would learn about the Tudors or other historical royals?

Absolutely. And why shouldn't it be as interactive as other History topics? At dd's school they had a Roman banquet in class when they were learning about the Romans. Is that a 'waste of time' as well?

edam · 03/04/2011 23:42

Um, difference is the Tudors had power and the current Royals don't. (And the Tudors were quite interesting, unlike the Windsors.) If they were studying the powers of 'the crown' as exercised by HM Government, that'd be worthwhile.

Morloth · 04/04/2011 02:40

Do you think they will have a special day for the Royal Divorce?

lisianthus · 04/04/2011 07:21

I agree with hmc, BeerTricks and the rest of you saying it is a bunch of forelock tugging rubbish. As Marmalade says, the school isn't going to let anyone take their child out to go to a wedding of someone the child actually knows, so this isn't about marriage, it's saying that this marriage is special because of who the participants are.

If DD "makes up her own mind" that these pampered wasters are her betters, then I will feel that I have failed to teach her properly.

Bollocks about the charity work. Lots of other people do lots of charity work using their own money they have earned themselves. The royals only do it because otherwise it would be obvious how pointless they are. They SHOULD do something given the huge amounts we pay them. I can't believe they get a halo for doing what is not particularly intellectually or physically challenging work for which they already get a huge salary plus perks.

And I don't believe the tourism argument either. France, Italy and most of Europe don't seem to have a problem getting the tourists in. OTOH, lots of places with royalty, such as Saudi Arabia, do.

lisianthus · 04/04/2011 07:27

Thinkng about it, the royals shouldn't get ANY credit for ribbon-cutting for charity until the bunch of them have earned back the amounts spent on this wedding which have been paid by the government who has taken them away from ordinary people who need the money to live. Such as the Disability Living Allowance.

Original poster
QueenOfFlippingEverything · 04/04/2011 08:14

SpringHeeledJack - yep, that's me Smile

I just think, you know, there's cuts being made left right and centre to services for the most disadvantaged and under-privileged children. DD goes to a tiny village school that has been under threat of closure on and off for years. What lesson will they be learning from being made to participate in this charade?

Its all about celebrating the privileges granted to a tiny minority - it has fuck all to do with the realities of life for most people, and its not really the message I want DD to be getting. There's no suggestion of any debate around the issues many people have, it is as marmalade says, a display of forelock tugging servitude.

OP posts:
onlion · 04/04/2011 08:24

No frikkin way would I be getting involved in that crap. Mine would be off that day too.

lisianthus · 04/04/2011 08:26

Absolutely. If the school was to bring up some of these issues, it might actually be a useful exercise. Just celebrating it is forelock tugging servitude and in your particular case with the school being in danger of closure for lack of funds, it is like turkeys celebrating Christmas.

TalkinPeace2 · 04/04/2011 09:05

Garcia
Around £20,000,000.00 for the Police alone
Anything the Royals pay in we have paid for - around £10,000,000.00

Plus all the taxpayer funded holiday pay for every public sector employee
NOTE we are paying the teachers to take that day off having wasted the day before

and the lost productivity in the private sector

and the fact that anybody who wants to watch will stay at home with the telly

this charade is going to cost the country a packet

and if his dad had not been shagging his mistress right through their marriage his mum might still be alive
now there's a lesson for the teachers to cover

marmaladetwatkins · 04/04/2011 09:41

What lisianthus said at 07.21 :)

Original poster
QueenOfFlippingEverything · 05/04/2011 13:13

Well, letter detailing my objections and stating that DD will not be participating has been sent to school. Have said she will spend the day doing a project on marriage, what it means to different people, and wedding customs from around the world, and that we will be donating £10 to charity instead of sending in flowers.

OP posts:
cazzybabs · 05/04/2011 13:21

OMG I am no way a royalist but (1) am looking forward to an extra day with my kids (cursing because I lose a day of maternity leave) but nice for the school to do doing something to celebrate it - can you see it s learning about weddings (we do this topic in Year 1). They are hardly asking for money - asking for flowers! I am not sure I understand why you think it is a waste of money. I am sure I could spin some educational value from it but I think it will nice for the children.

TBH I think you ABVU

Desperateforthinnerthighs · 05/04/2011 13:21

YANBU - it's bloody ridiculous and I wouldnt participate at all........actually, I wouldnt even donate the steam off my piss Shock for this royal wedding spectacle!

aliceliddell · 05/04/2011 13:28

I'm so glad all us republicans are galvanised into resistance! Totally agree re cuts etc. As for asking you to pay for this nonsense - nay, nay and thrice nay!

lorelilee · 05/04/2011 13:43

Jesus - you are a miserable lot - it's just a chance for the kids to have a bit of fun. Yes, it is costing the tax payer money, but don't think for a minute that it would have been re-directed to 'more deserving' areas if this wasn't taking place. I can't bloody wait!

Desperateforthinnerthighs · 05/04/2011 13:47

I'm not miserable....just couldnt give two hoots about the royal family/wedding etc etc...and it's not even down to money, just cant stand em!

ohmeohmy · 05/04/2011 13:50

Or you could go and stand and make a speech at the point in the proceedings where priest asks if anyone here present knows any lawful impediment?....