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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to suggest the Queen should take on more staff pretty urgently?

102 replies

Scarby9 · 01/09/2020 14:51

Fairly tongue in cheek, but having successfully applied for a Diamond Wedding congratulatory message from the Queen, I was a bit non-plussed to then receive this message:
*confirming your application for a congratulatory message from The Queen, please note that there will be a delay to the delivery of Her Majesty's card. The message will be delivered as soon as possible, but we are unable to specify a date at this time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The Anniversaries Office*

Since these messages only go to people who have been married 60 years, or made it to their 100th birthday, I would have thought time was of the essence in these cases.

Maybe the palace could take on a few extra temporary staff to clear the backlog and catch up, or temporarily redeploy staff who would usually be organising royal visits or walkabouts that are not currently taking place?

OP posts:
GoingtotheWinchester · 01/09/2020 18:00

@pigsDofly unless one of your misguided relatives doesn't know your wishes and requests one, you've no hope of getting one so don't worry!

And it's not a thoughtful gesture from the queen Hmm - she won't even know about it! Grin

lyralalala · 01/09/2020 18:11

@ArnoldBee

Ahh its not the Queen's staff that do it. Its DWP who have been slightly busy sorting out everyone's benefit payments. Money for food or a lovely card?
The DWP don't sent the cards. They send a list to the Anniversaries office (there is a specific DWP team for centenarians)
pigsDOfly · 01/09/2020 18:14

GoingtotheWinchester I was under the impression that they had to be ordered as I seem to recall that my exBIL ordered one for his mother's 100th birthday.

Someone upthread said they were sent out automatically to anyone who had dealings with DWP once they reached 100 so I assumed it had changed and I was going by that.

Just seems a bit pointless to send them out to all and sundry as I'm sure there must be others like your dad and me who'd really rather not have one.

CaMePlaitPas · 01/09/2020 18:16

What is it like to live on another planet OP?

ThatDamnScientist · 01/09/2020 18:25

@amijustparanoidorjuststoned

....Don't say it, don't say it, Don't say it, don't say it, Don't say it, don't say it...

Okay I'll say it. There's a global pandemic going on. Lots of people have died, half a million people will have been made redundant next month, people are struggling to feed their kids. Surely your priority isn't having a civil servant write a card...?

I'm sorry to be so blunt and I'm happy for your parents but... seriously?

For yourself and anyone else moaning the OP said lighthearted!

Hope it arrives not too late and congratulations to your parents!! Flowers

nosswith · 01/09/2020 18:27

There should be one less person having anything to do with the Queen, her son Prince Andrew. Unless he is prepared to co-operate properly into the allegations made against him.

lyralalala · 01/09/2020 18:32

OK, fair enough, I didn't realise that over 50,000 cards would be sent out each year, I understand now why she doesn't sign them all personally.

Yeah, it's a large number.

They go out for 100th birthdays, 105th birthdays and then each birthday after that. Then 60th, 65th, 70th and ongoing anniversaries. (They still have to be requested each year so that there's no faux pas of "The Queen sent my dead Mum/Dad a card" stories)

Anyone in the commonwealth can apply as well so there's loads.

Original poster
Scarby9 · 01/09/2020 20:30

@CaMePlaitPas Sorry?

OP posts:
Ffsseriously · 01/09/2020 21:00

@scarby9 people are odd, your op made me smile, which in these trying times is nice. I mean obviously i could just sit about moaning feeling stressed and sad that I have lost my job, but it doesnt help or change anything. So i think i would rather read a nice thread about happy stuff.

Original poster
Scarby9 · 01/09/2020 21:17

@Ffsseriously Smile Thank you!
It was meant as a light pondering on an (I thought obviously) unimportant topic. Several posts have made me think your username - Fsseriously?!?

OP posts:
Original poster
Scarby9 · 03/09/2020 20:37

Risking being told off again for being pleased about simething duting a pandemic, but here is an update.

The congratulations card from the Queen arrived today by special delivery, bang on my parents' Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Well done the Anniversary Office!

The hard had exactly the positive impact we hoped for. Parents were surprised and pleased. Really lovely.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scarby9 · 03/09/2020 20:38

The hard = The card

OP posts:
Pelleas · 03/09/2020 20:41

Great news! A very Happy Anniversary to your folks! Glitterball

Pobblebonk · 03/09/2020 23:46

Lovely update. Happy anniversary to Scarby9's parents!

ImaSababa · 04/09/2020 06:58

Why would anyone even want a message from the queen? Slightly sad, IMO. We need to stop this forelock-tugging worship of the royal family. They're leeches.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/09/2020 07:27

Congratulations to your parents, @Scarby9!

@ImaSababa, it's not actually necessary to rain on someone else's parade. Start a monarchy-bashing thread if you want to do that, or add to one of the dozens and dozens already on the site. This thread was about something nice the OP was trying to do for her parents.

GerardWay123 · 04/09/2020 07:32

@ImaSababa, did your parents not teach you that if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all? This is about OP's parents, nothing else.
OP, I'm pleased for your parents that their card arrived on time.

Pobblebonk · 04/09/2020 07:55

did your parents not teach you that if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all?

Do any parents actually teach their children that? It's a totally unworkable way for anyone to live their lives.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 04/09/2020 08:07

Okay I'll say it. There's a global pandemic going on. Lots of people have died, half a million people will have been made redundant next month, people are struggling to feed their kids. Surely your priority isn't having a civil servant write a card...?
A lot of Civil Servants are doing sweet fa. It'll give them something to do.

We are trying to get back to normal in different areas of our lives. I can't see why this shouldn't be up and running as normal.
Having little positive things to enjoy is what will help is get back to normal. We can't all wallow in the misery forever.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 04/09/2020 08:10

That is lovely news, OP, and I'm glad the card has raised your parents' spirits.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 04/09/2020 08:15

@ImaSababa

Why would anyone even want a message from the queen? Slightly sad, IMO.
The thread isn't asking for your opinion on that.

We need to stop this forelock-tugging worship of the royal family. They're leeches.
We? Is that the royal we?
Oh do fack orf.

Original poster
Scarby9 · 04/09/2020 08:20

@ImaSababa
My parents are absolutely not royalists in any shape or form but are having a very difficult time which is only going to get worse in the coming months. Their children could not be with them for the actual anniversary day (though we are garden visiting this weekend) and ANY novelty / bit of jollity I can provide for them is a bonus.

60 years of their marriage is worth marking, but they couldn't have a party or anything, so cards and gifts were the best we could do.

@Pobblebonk Yes, my parents taught me that and it is workable as a way to go through life. Why would anyone gratuitously choose to say something nasty to someone else?

There are gentle ways to give your opinion on a topic if asked, and even sensitive ways to introduce a difficult subject if not asked, but why would anyone choose to intervene to make someone's time worse?

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 04/09/2020 08:21

Glad it got there op. The palace might be having delays as during the summer they often borrow civil servants from other Departments to help with correspondence - but that hasn't happened this year.

Martinisarebetterdirty · 04/09/2020 08:35

Congratulations to your parents OP Flowers

Daftapath · 04/09/2020 14:15

Congratulations to your parents @Scarby9. Lovely that their card arrived on the right day.

My sister had a phone call to double check my parents address for their card and a huge apology that the card would be about a week late. We nevertheless had a lovely lunch yesterday with them - the first time we have seen them since lockdown. It has been lovely for us all to have something positive to celebrate.