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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the planned Diamond Jubilee celebrations are ridiculously extravagent and a kick in the teeth for those of us facing difficult times?

119 replies

LifeHope11 · 15/12/2011 21:21

I am not saying that we shouldn't mark the occasion but seriously:

A decorated barge plus flotilla of 1000 boats?
500 horses to be shipped into the UK from around the world?
A 'Jubilee' concert and a thanksgiving service?
A vast jolly of free holidays - sorry, 'official visits to the four corners of the globe' of dozens of 'royals' with their attendand flunkeys?

I don't know how even the most dedicated royalist can justify all this ridiculous extravagenceat a time of looming recession, austerity measures and squeezed households, cuts on the vulnerable and disabled etc, rising unemployment, homelessness and poverty. I think this could backfire on them very badly indeed as they are showing themselves up as being completely out of sympathy with people's concerns and fears

OP posts:
TartyMcFalalalalalalalalarty · 15/12/2011 21:22

YANBU!

hiddenhome · 15/12/2011 21:23

YANBU, but, knowing the daft population, they'll probably lap it up Grin They seemed to like the Royal Wedding.

SanTEEClaus · 15/12/2011 21:23

So exactly like the government then, yes? Why would you expect anything different at this point in the world? The haves have, the have nots look through the shop window at the lovely sweets.

winterfox · 15/12/2011 21:23

anarchy for the uk 2012 Grin

troisgarcons · 15/12/2011 21:24

YABU - Im looking forward to seeing what Briatin does best in Jubilee and Olympic Year - bring it on

BlissfulMistletoe · 15/12/2011 21:25

yanbu, what a waste of money when times are hard

molepomandmistletoe · 15/12/2011 21:26

YANBU..I hate it, and will resent the money spent, however, I can also see how this can be a bit of a money spinner to give the economy a bit of a boost from tourism alone. After all, what is the monarchy if not a tourist attraction?

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 15/12/2011 21:26

Where was this list of planned activities published?

KalSkirata · 15/12/2011 21:27

yanbu. Plase dont tell me there's a day off school too?

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 15/12/2011 21:27

YABU. This is how it has always been, the pomp and ceremony keep everyone going. Regardless of all the moaning and whinging, people expect it and still like it.

I personally couldn't give a toss either way but quite how what they do affects the money in your pocket is beyond me. The alternative is that we're all bloody miserable. And what exactly does that achieve?

Mirage · 15/12/2011 21:27

YABU.We are looking forward to seeing the horses.Grin

AKMD · 15/12/2011 21:27

YABU, don't be such a misery guts.

NormanTebbit · 15/12/2011 21:30

I think us toothless commoners are meant to gawp in amazement and admiration at this show of power and privilege.

Personally - I predict a riot.

LivingDead · 15/12/2011 21:30

YANBU, the royal family should be forced into living in a mouldy council flat on jsa, or alternatively off with their inbred heads.

ChickenLickn · 15/12/2011 21:32

YABU - thats why they didnt cut the jolly japes international aid budget.

redlac · 15/12/2011 21:33

I think there is a public holiday/school holiday planned.

Waste of money if you ask me with over 2.5million people unemployed

troisgarcons · 15/12/2011 21:34

Everyone loves a Royal extravaganza .....it unites the country

usualsuspect · 15/12/2011 21:37

I hate anything to do with the Royals

YANBU

ChickenLickn · 15/12/2011 21:38

YANBU lovely time of year for it Grin

Original poster
LifeHope11 · 15/12/2011 21:43

I think at best the jury is out on whether it will boost tourism. Do people really come here to see the Royals? More people visit Versailles than any Royal palace here - it is empty of royals - we all know why -so people can actually get in to see it.

They said the Royal wedding would boost the economy to until afterwards admitting that it had had a negative effect overall due to the bank holiday.

AKMD, I will stop being a misery guts if someone helps me with my mortgage and bills after my extended period of unemployment and makes up my disabled DS benefits which have been cut. And there are many FAR worse off than me.

If the 'royals' want to mark the occasion they should show solidarity with people suffering hardship - but as usual they can be relied upon not to pass up an opportunity to spend taxpayers money.

OP posts:
EdithWeston · 15/12/2011 21:46

It,s a bit late in the day to carp about the cost. Lord Mandleson announced the additional tax payer contributions in January 2010.

The horses aren't a cost to the public purse - they're part of the Windsor Horse Show which has never been paid for by the tax-payer.

applecrumbleandcream · 15/12/2011 21:51

YANBU totally lacking in any understanding on the feelings of the country.

Olympics and now this, wake me up in 2013!

redlac · 15/12/2011 21:51

applecrumble move to Scotland - we don't give a fig about the Olympics or the Jubilee just like we didn't care about the Royal Wedding

Original poster
LifeHope11 · 15/12/2011 21:54

Edith, January 2010 was nearly 2 years ago and a lot has changed since then, are you saying decisions made then are cast in stone? We are facing an economic crisis and double dip recession, people are really suffering and likely to suffer more. I don't disbelieve you about the horses but even if some elements do not have a cost attached, overall this is bound to be hugely expensive (just think of the security costs as well). And it is not even just the financial cost but also the extravagance of the spectacle which is out of keeping with the times and which I predict will offend many.

OP posts:
celticlassie · 15/12/2011 21:55

The 'economy boost' will be in London, like the 'economy boost' for The Olympics.

Up North we're just paying for it.

YANBU