If you’re struggling to make ends meet (yet another Jubilee thread- sorry).

[MerryLeg]

Full disclosure- I’m not British and don’t live in the UK so wasn’t interested in seeking out a way to watch the full Jubilee celebrations, but I did catch some clips online, read about it in online papers, and saw some coverage on the news.

Overall, I don’t have particularly strong feelings towards the British royal family (as an institution, some individuals such as Andrew are a different story). The concept of a monarchy is foreign to me, so I don’t take too much notice of the gossip or drama.

I saw some clips from the concert and the drone show was really cool. The bit I saw showed a corgi in a crown. Very cute, but I can only imagine the cost. I also read on here about children being given a commemorative book (think one thread mentioned that coating £12m?). Add everything in, and the government has spent a huge amount of money.

There'll be arguments for and against. People will say that the monarchy brings in a lot of tourist income- I’ve been to London plenty of times and have gone to Buckingham Palace etc, but then again, I’ve also been to Versailles and Schönbrunn and neither France nor Austria have a monarchy now, but still benefit from the tourism aspect.

What really hit me during the clips I was watching was the sheer amount being spent. When I was watching the drone corgi, I was enamored with it, but then thought about how I’d feel if I was watching in a cold house while struggling to pay my gas or electric bill, relying on food banks to feed my children, or stuck in a B&B while waiting on housing.

Or does an event like this lift the mood so much, that people see it as a mental/wellbeing boost?

I'm not saying that people who are struggling financially are some form of Pando hive-mind, but wanted to ask-

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, were you happy to see so much spent on the Jubilee celebrations?

It's not as if money was siphoned directly out of so and so's universal credit or that little Johnny didn't get his free school meals that week in order to pay for the Jubilee celebrations so your argument doesn't add up.

If you're on the bones of your arse, you only have to look on social media to see other people's ostentatious wealth and overspending and having worked for the Government for 30 years, I can give you a multiple examples of how ££££ money has been spunked on projects far less worthy than the Jubilee.

In my town, there was loads of stuff laid on including big screen films, live music and fairgrounds rides - all free - so everyone could enjoy.

The whole thing was great.

That’s a shame because it made millions of people very proud to be British. Audiences around the world for the pageant were in excess of 2 billion.

I decided to take the pragmatic view that, as it was happening, I might as well enjoy it and make the most of the free local events and entertainment that was available.

I don't really mind money being spent on a celebration for the public to enjoy (if they want to).

I think what jarred most with me was watching the Royals in their boxes with their totally unearned, prime, cushioned seats. I'd rather have seen those seats go to people who'd done something for the community, or more generally who worked hard and deserved a seat. It's galling to see (for example) a 4 year old Royal in the box while there's (for example) a 60 year old woman who's worked all her life having to jostle in the standing crowds.

It was a once in a lifetime event with all celebrations and pageantry executed extremely well! It showcased the UK in a wonderful light on the global stage.

I have three friends/relatives who own or run hospitality businesses. All of them have said this last weekend has been an absolute godsend for them after the last few years and gives them back a bit of a buffer going into the uncertainly ahead.

This.

It definitely lifted my mood and I’m all for these type of celebrations. Even though I am struggling financially I’m not a gloomy or miserable sort of person and I’ve had some very very tough times but it never makes me want to see the world as all doom and gloom. I like having a monarchy - getting rid of it will make not one iota of difference to people’s or the country’s finances. I’m not going to suddenly feel wealthy because we don’t have a monarchy, employment won’t be better, schools won’t be better et etc perhaps the politicians would line their own pockets instead so as far as I’m concerned bring on the pomp and pageantry and technicolour.

Do you never feel curiosity about how people in other countries might feel about major events affecting them? It's a big wide world, we can take an interest in things outside our bubble, as can the OP.

@MerryLeg If you're not British and don't live in the UK what on earth does it have to do with you anyway?

The only people I've seen questioning the costs are American H&M fanatics.

I have zero interest in the royals or H&M and I thought it was a really nice boost after two years of awfulness. I do think they could have combined the parade and concert but it worked out fine.

People massively underestimate how much money the RF give to the nation. Basically everything that belongs to the RF goes to the state and then they get (an admittedly large) sum back to maintain themselves. If we sold it all off we’d lose it forever and all the money - at the moment the tax payer gets an awesome deal from all the money generated by the vast royal estates/duchy etc. it’s all very badly understood by the public.

Same. And it's a good point that were it anywhere else people would be saying how awful it is. But cake and bunting...

I wouldn't really be interested in say American Thanksgiving, or US Independence Day or other cultural events around the world I have no connection with. I certainly wouldn't start a thread about it knowing it was a controversial subject.

Which country are YOU from?

I agree with the OP. Some will be upset at my comment but I make no apology for it: all that money wasted on garbage for a freeloader of 70 years and her freeloading dysfunctional family. It's disgusting. The sooner the monarchy is abolished the better.

I have zero interest in the Oscars.

Honestly can’t imagine looking at another country I am not from or live in and having an opinion on wether they should or should do something.

Do you think America does enough to restrict access to guns and prevent school shootings?

I always dislike the notion that money spent on certain things is wasted, when the money spent went on the costs of production and staff salaries. Not fatcat leadership, but people with jobs supporting themselves.

I found the whole thing sickening. The sheer waste of money. I’m not even struggling myself but it just seems so wrong to me. I have no feelings either way about the RF but I think the whole royal thing should be scrapped now.

Which country are YOU from?

Japan, originally.

Now mainly working in a Scandinavian country.

Where’s the wooden spoon emoji 🥣 for the OP. Either a lazy journalist or posting from somewhere you wouldn’t be shocked to see Borscht on the menu. 😉

You don’t live here and have no connection to Britain. Mind your own business

4 days of events is not a school shooting. And quite frankly, having relatives in The US gives me the knowledge it’s not that easy to do AND that people that don’t spend time their don’t really understand the mindset.

But to be honest, no, I don’t feel the need to start a discussion on line to ask poor people how they feel about something.

I definitely wouldn’t ask the poor people of Japan to share their opinion on a national event and talk about how crap it must feel for them.

so many people think they are doing the poor a favour by moaning on about this stuff. But really, I think just to appear so much more enlightened as though they can see something everyone else can’t.

Slightly off topic? What's this got to do with your original subject?

According to Visit England, The Jubilee weekend was estimated to bring £1.2Billion to the UK economy so the £28 million that the government spent is peanuts.

Ahh - the sunny Scandinavian uplands - a quick Google brings up a fair amout of reports on poverty there. But, as others have said, just mind your own business