to have reached peak Queen appreciation?

[BrexitentialCrisis]

We've had:

Jubilee
Longest Reign
Now 90thbirthday

It's not like I don't think she's done a great job being head of state for so long. It's just that I feel we've spent a long time fawning over her achievements and her life while there are lots of other 90 year olds who haven't lived such a privileged innings who also deserve to be cherished and celebrated.
I guess I'm just feeling a bit emotional today as I'm off for a cuppa with my granny at the care home. Some of the inmates residents there never seem to have many visitors and it's really sad.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

I have nothing against the Queen.

But I often what her 'job description' would actually look like. I mean, she holds no decision making power - that's all done by the government. So what is it that she actually does? What do her daily tasks/ duties look like? I mean even before she got old and stopped going out as much, what negotiations did she do that were particularly taxing?

I also wonder if she wipes her own bum or has someone do it for her. Sorry to lower the tone but I'd love to be a fly on the wall at Buck House/ Sandringham/ Balmoral.

[PirateSmile]

I saw on the news today that only the Queen is allowed to wear Balmoral tartan. It made me immediately want to order a few meters of Balmoral tartan, run up a frock and prance up and down the Mall in it.

[Lottapianos]

'What this must do to your sense of self is an interesting study for any psychologists, armchair or otherwise, out there.'

Indeed. I was listening to clips on the radio this morning of some of her speeches through the years - she told quite a few very mild, lightly cringey jokes, delivered in her usual stilted humourless tone. You could hear gales of laughter following every one

I have no time for the monarchy as an institution but I also don't envy any of them their lives. Yes of course they are ridiculously privileged in some ways, and will never want for any (material) thing, but it must be like living in a goldfish bowl. I wonder how she really feels about all the fussing and fawning today, and if she wishes people would just sod off and leave her alone all the time sometimes

[PirateSmile]

I once read that the Queen must believe everywhere smells of fresh paint.

[NeedACleverNN]

My nan is a big royalist. Won't hear a bad word against the queen.

She camped on the street when Diana got married and again when Kate and Will got married.

She is always going on about when she took me to London and I gave a bunch of posies to the queen. Very proud of it.

But I don't understand why people are so enamoured by them. They don't do anything!

[SpareCrust]

Yes, I feel churlish saying it, but I feel I might do a job quite well if I had my clothes made and laundered for me, my house cleaned, my pets fed, my meals cooked, my hair styled, my car driven etc etc. I do not envy her all the constant travelling, hand-shaking, speech-giving and press scrutiny though, nor having your diary full five years in advance.

I have nothing against the Queen personally, in fact I have quite a lot of respect for her (and think it is amazing she is still riding a horse aged 90 yrs!) but I am ambivalent about the issue of monarchy in general. I like the history, the continuity, the stability that a monarchy provides (and the tourism it attracts).

Cannot bear the fawning however, and cringe when they present one another with awards and most of all - as someone with lots of family members in the forces - feel embarrassed when some lesser members of the royals turn up on the parade ground in full dress uniform when they have barely served a day... .

Having said all of that ... I do love a good marching band ... !

It will interesting to see if the general populus accepts Charles and what their attitude to him will be.

[MidnightAura]

I'm not a fan of the Royal family so I don't care for this "celebration". I always wonder why people line the streets for a glimpse of them and fawn all over them like they are the best thing since sliced bread. None of them give a shit about these people!

I would love to see the monarchy gone.

[ClaudiaApfelstrudel]

I'm also a republican but I don't spend much time thinking about it, if the Queen is 90, good for her, but good for anyone else who makes it that far too. I have a friend who is 102 and she sleeps most of the day

[specialsubject]

I wouldn't swap for anything. And as pointed out, while luck has a lot to do with good health, Princess Margaret proved that smoking and swilling can override the effects of privilege.

doesn't affect me, but I think it is a bit rubbish that there is no bank holiday - presumably no-one can take the chance of that much forward planning.

as for the lining the streets and cheering - people do that for lots of non-worthwhile people in an age where lack of talent is no barrier to a career in the arts.

[Justletthemeatcake]

"This is essentially a feudal nation"

All republicans and the monarchocurious and those who like the royal family but wonder if it makes them nationally infantilised: please read:
this article by George Monbiot.

It's from 2014 but it asks some important questions and says this which points putt our prostrate civilian status in front of the Establishment bulldozer that is UK plc. This is not an equal society and this is far from democracy.

George Monbiot:

"It’s no coincidence that the two most regressive forms of taxation in the UK – council tax banding and the payment of farm subsidies – both favour major owners of property. The capping of council tax bands ensures that the owners of £100m flats in London pay less than the owners of £200,000 houses in Blackburn. Farm subsidies, which remain limitless as a result of the Westminster government’s lobbying, ensure that every household in Britain hands £245 a year to the richest people in the land. The single farm payment system, under which landowners are paid by the hectare, is a reinstatement of a medieval levy called feudal aid, a tax the vassals had to pay to their lords.

If this is the government of enterprise, not rent, ask yourself why capital gains tax (at 28%) is lower than the top rate of income tax. Ask yourself why principal residences, though their value may rise by millions, are altogether exempt. Ask yourself why rural landowners are typically excused capital gains tax, inheritance tax and the first five years of income tax. The enterprise society? It’s a con, designed to create an illusion of social mobility."

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

Are some "celebrities" going for the Most Cringe-worthy Bollocks Spoken When Sucking Up to the Queen award?

We've had Nicholas Witchell's witterings (The corgis no nothing of her status) . Roger Moore (the national anthem is a prayer for her) and now Ainsley Harriot (the healing power of her touch).

I for one will only be eating small quantities of bland food today for fear of losing my lunch when I turn on the TV or radio.

Get rid.

[Lottapianos]

'I for one will only be eating small quantities of bland food today for fear of losing my lunch when I turn on the TV or radio. '



I usually eat dinner in front of the TV news. Maybe best avoided tonight!

I remember seeing some 'Jubilee Sick Bags' in a joke shop a few months before the Golden Jubilee - should have stocked up!

[Justletthemeatcake]

I just saw those photos with the grandchildren, presenting her as a sweet grannie figure.

I just find it so regressive. I think we should grow up and let the whole shebang go after this Queen goes.

But I have no desire to see the Chuckster on my stamps. Or to like the back of his head (but metaphorically his billionaire Arse) when I post summat.

Who will rid us of this troublesome medieval institution?

[Justletthemeatcake]

'Lick' not 'like'!

[ElanoraHeights]

Yes, agree with you OP. I've only heard a bit of the news today and what I heard was cringeworthy. I heard one commentator say that the Queen has come out to meet her subjects. It made me wonder why the masses put up with being 'subjects' in this day and age. I don't want to be a subject!

I'm of the opinion that getting rid of the monarchy wouldn't affect tourism. After all, people don't see the Queen when they visit the UK. They come to see the buildings and the history and we could open up more palaces if she and the rest of the Royal family weren't in residence.

I do wonder who tells William and Kate, sorry, Catherine..., that they have to do this trip or that trip. Is it the Queen? And, if not, someone behind the Queen is directing proceedings and to what end? It's all very odd.

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

YANBU.
Jubilee - well done, Queen, you're still alive.
Longest reign - and you're still alive, more so than other monarchs in history! Well done for being in the 21st century where medicine is better and you get the best of it.
Birthday - and you're still alive! Thank you for waving at people for all this time.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

I've seen those pics too Just on my Facebook feed. She doesn't strike me as a warm grandmother tbh so the photo feels quite cold to me. Grandmothers feed their grandchildren chocolate and biscuits and give them cuddles when they're poorly and being looked after. They let them get away with more than their parents do/ would. They make them their favourite dinner, even if it's chips, spaghetti and chocolate sauce. They tell their grandchildren stories about their childhoods and buy them plastic tat and cute tops to wear. They read with them, talk, laugh and cry with them. I honestly can't see the Queen doing all that my Mum does for my ds.

[witsender]

The whole lot can fuck right off. It is a ludicrously outdated notion even having a royalty, let alone celebrating the fact that the most pampered and indulged UK resident has made 90.

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

I do feel sorry for Corbyn, having to offer a comment. I think he did well, and I hope he's unclenched his teeth now.

[eaglesreach]

privilege doesn't count for everything though, it didn't help Princess Margaret
Oh but it surely does. It was the privileges of being a royal princess that were worth far more to her than the love of her life. Her refusing to relinquish the huge excesses of wealth and privilege that were thrown at her because she was a princess rather than step down and marry the man she loved just shows what fairy tale lives these royals live.Margaret knew she was on to a good thing, as the rest of that family do....as long as the mugs keep throwing money at them, they'll keep taking. How they must laugh at us all.

[applecatchers36]

YANBU agree with everything letthemeatcake said

[angelos02]

I hope he's unclenched his teeth now

[angelos02]

They are no different to the 'scroungers' that the Daily Fail love us to hate. Oh except they are different....they get billions of pounds in homes and land, more clothing allowance per month than most people earn in a year and they don't even have to get the bus to sign a form once a week.

[morningtoncrescent62]

Made me think more about how ridiculous the whole monarchy bollocks is. Woman that has lived a charmed life living in mutliple homes totalling billions of pounds gets to 90 years old while the country over which she reigns has millions of people having to use food banks

Couldn't agree more. Hooray for some sanity on this thread. Does anyone have a link to Corbyn's speech?