What a party! (The Golden Jubilee)

Member Name: whitby

Product:	The Golden Jubilee
Date:	08/06/02 (290 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great events broadcast globally, Lovely to see the Royal Family in a more relaxed manner, Brings great hopes for the Diamond Jubilee

Disadvantages: Only 12000 to the palace events, London was too packed for me to have felt comfortable, Doesn't necessarily mean the monarchy is back in favour as could just have been an excuse to party

Aged three - I was too young to remember The Silver Jubilee in 1977.

When growing up the key events to look forward to for me, had been the solar eclipse and then the Millennium.

I have a little collection of keepsakes relating to those dates and now I can add some bits and pieces from the Queen’s Golden Jubilee as it is an event that I feel has been a huge success and will be remembered in history.

I understand that not every one in the United Kingdom feels that the monarchy is a worthwhile cause and I can understand the reasons why, but personally I love all the pomp and tradition that comes from our Royal Family. I feel that the four day bank holiday and the various celebrations that came with it have really brought the nation together. The World Cup being at the same time justs carries on the sense of 'National Pride' that we in the UK have been missing for a while.

With it being my birthday over the same weekend I did not attend any of the events myself – I had wanted to see the Concorde flypast today but the drink finally caught up with me! From what I have heard all the the events were equally as special to the people that attended.

I was glued to the television for most aspects of it as well as following the stories in the national papers.

I think it’s interesting to have watched the momentum build up over the weekend and the sudden turn of support for the Queen. I do acknowledge though that to many it was just an excuse for a huge knees up, but that doesn't matter as long as we all drew something beneficial from it.

This Dooyoo entry is just a personal look back at the events of the weekend, my own way of recording what went on..


QUEEN’S JUBILEE TOUR OF SCOTLAND
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This is when I first became aware of the interest in the Jubilee Weekend Celebrations.

I was staying in Inverness over the last
few weeks and they have recently been allocated City status by HRH. Some of the residents were very disappointed that the Queen did not visit their City during her tour of Scotland – you may have read about this in the press.

The reports surprised me as I wasn't aware that the Scots would necessarily be bothered about HRH.


THE PROMS JUBILEE CONCERT
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This was another indication of the events to follow over the weekend. The Queen looked relaxed sitting in the Royal Box with her family and newspapers picked up on the notable inclusion of Camilla Parker-Bowles in the seating arrangement.

Apparently the 12000 attendees who were winners of a lottery style draw for free tickets were all given a hamper containing Champagne, Strawberries, Jubilee / Coronation Chicken with Salad and Chocolates. How lovely and what a nice gesture!

I’m not really a fan of classical music and didn’t even realise that it was the BBC Symphony Orchestra playing!

The concert was quite spectacular to watch though and crowds had even gathered by the Victoria and Alert Memorial to watch on the large TV screens outside Buckingham Palace. It was at this point that I started to think about how huge the Pop Concert on Monday would be!


JUBILEE CONCERT AND FIREWORK DISPLAY
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Again 12000 people were gathered in the grounds of Buckingham Palace along with the Princes Charles, William and Harry to watch a brilliant performance from The Corrs, Paul McCartney, Will Young and Queen to name but a few.

As well as being a celebration of the Golden Jubilee the event was also to reflect on 50years of Pop music so I was a little surprised that Elton John didn’t take time out from his tour to perform live at the concert but that was the only disappointment. He apparently had filmed his slot before going on tour.

Towards the end
of the performance the Queen arrived and then led the Royal Family out to the front of the Palace to light the Jubilee Beacon that then caused a wonderful rocket to shoot up towards the Palace where the magnificent display of fireworks started.

Watching this on television was my highlight of the weekend’s celebration, as I believe it was the best display that London has ever put on. To see the view down through Pall Mall with crowds of people waving Union Jacks was amazing and certainly a sight I will remember.

The display excelled anything seen in the UK at times like New Year and the rocket that started the ceremony was much better than the dreaded Millennium River Thames Fireball that failed to materialise (do you remember that?)

The television coverage on BBC1 over ran due to the display and it was no surprise to see the national papers full of it the next morning.

Buckingham Palace looked amazing with a laser show depicting times during the Queen’s reign. I think the picture's on the front pages of the newspapers the following day showed the Palace in its best ever light! The normally plain and imposing building became a fine centrepiece for the display and seemed very regal lit up in varying shades of gold with the fireworks going off all around it.


BBC
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Although ITV1 have shown some of the activities, it is no secret that the BBC suggested most of this weekends activities to the Queen. They reportedly helped with funding and arranged for the large screens to be positioned around London to enable people to view the goings on from the London parks etc.


CARNIVAL AND THE FLYPAST!
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The flypast was a fitting end to the day of Thanksgiving at St Pails and the Notting Hill Style Carnival display that went along the streets whilst the Queen was having lunch.

The Queen rode to St Paul's in the historic Golden Coach th
at looked magnificent if not a little over lavish.

Towards the end of the carnival (which also overran) I especially enjoyed seeing all the children with their Gold Streamers and ribbons waving whilst running in front of the Queen’s open top Range Rover for her arrival back at the palace. The television coverage even showed HRH banging onto the drivers roof in an attempt to get him to slow down.

Living near to Northolt air base was an advantage during the last day of the London Jubilee as it was there that the aircraft mainly landed after the finale of the weekend – the Flypast!

I also understand that Concorde’s home – Heathrow was even closed for 10 minutes whilst the air parade was underway.

As always the air display did not let us down!

THE US CONTRIBUTION
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Within two days of the events in America on September 11th the Queen and Palace had arranged for the American National Anthem to be played at the changing of the guard or similar event. In recognition of this and her service to our country, the top of the Empire State Building was decked out in Purple and Gold lighting as a tribute (thanks Dalesman I eventually saw the pictures!).



SUMMARY
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HRH Queen Elizabeth 2nd seemed to thoroughly enjoy her Golden Jubilee Celebrations as did the many thousands of people who joined in be it in their own private parties, local celebrations, being in London or by watching on TV.

It is important to note that Prince Phillip was beside his wife for all of the activities and it is easy to forget that this is where he has been during the entire Queen's reign (even if he does sometimes say some weird things - hehehe).

Through the summer, until August the Queen will be visiting over locations all over the UK in this her Jubilee Year. Having seen her this weekend, taking part in all these activities I now wonder where she
gets all her energy from!

I feel that despite the sad loss of her mother and sister earlier this year, the Queen can look back on this year with pride and a feeling of worth.

I think it was very emotional watching all of the people who turned out to the various events in Central London and I can only hope that come the Diamond Jubilee in 10 years time, the feelings and emotions from the public will be just the same.

If that is the case then I hope to plan better and make sure that I’m there for it!

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