LONDON, UK, JUNE 5, 2012: Elizabeth II, the Queen of England, has just passed in front of me in her grand coach and accompanying gilded retinue of footmen, bands, mounted Life Guards and security. Along with thousands of flag waving and cheering Brits, for about three hours in front of the Horse Guards, I have been jostled, pushed and elbowed in the London drizzle so as to experience the royal wave from her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as she proceeded to Buckingham Palace for the final event in her four day “never ending” Diamond Jubilee Celebration to honor/praise her 60 year reign.
To give you some idea of the scope and magnitude of this event, the country came to a stand still from June 2 – June 5. National bank/stock exchange holidays were declared, beacons were lit and people celebrated in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth countries.
Indulging her love of horse racing, the Queen chose Epsom racecourse and its world famous Derby race to kickoff her Diamond Jubilee Celebration. I managed to score a ticket for the event on the internet and found myself with rented top hat/morning clothes not more than three feet away from the Queen who was handing out trophies.
The second day of the celebration was in London where the 86-year-old Queen took part in the largest regale pageant in 350 years. A flotilla of a 1000 boats from all around the world travelled 25 miles along the Thames River featuring the Queen on the Royal Barge. After four hours in the cold drizzle maneuvering for a good place to watch this happening, I finally found a patch at the entrance to Westminster Bridge directly facing the houses of Parliament. The flotilla was outstanding – my favorites were the private, small boats that evacuated the troops from Dunkirk in WW II. In the middle of this whole magnificent procession came the Queen on her barge. This barge was so big and so lavish that the Queen who was standing on the top deck looked like a surreal small white waiving speck. Miraculously right after she passed, the rain started to come down in sheets.
The third day of celebration occurred at night at Buckingham Palace where the Queen hosted a concert which included, among others, Alfie Boe, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Madness and Paul McCartney. You needed a ticket for this event which I did not have. To end run this impediment, I spent some time in the park abutting the Palace and could hear the performers practicing. The main event of the last day of the celebration was the Queen’s coach ride from Westminster to Buckingham Palace and the Royal air force flyover.
Throughout the Jubilee events in London, it became obvious that London’s transport infrastructure was straining in handling the crowds who had flocked to the City for the celebration. There were long lines at the airports particularly Heathrow and other airports where people were trying to clear customs. The London metro system was continuously overloaded and broke down often. Waterloo station and other stations were greatly taxed. If these conditions persist with the UK’s, London’s transport infrastructure, the London Olympics starting July 27th will be in for tough times.
Without a doubt, the Queen’s Jubilee Celebration has been the most elaborate the World has witnessed in modern times. In watching this extravaganza, it is obvious that many love and revere their Queen as a unifying symbol of their nation. Yet, given the country’s deteriorating economy, high unemployment rate, the recent riots and the prospect of an EU melt down, I find it rather curious that so much has been spent on this mega celebration. I have talked with many people in the UK who are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. While they do not begrudge the Queen her celebration, many find it difficult to be in a joyful mood given the fact that they are having trouble providing for their families and loved-ones.
The Queen should have exhibited greater national leadership by realizing that the Jubilee celebration was not only about her but, more importantly, about her wonderful fellow citizens.
She should have thanked all her people for providing her/her family a life “free of want” and for their continued support in spite of her/her family’s frequent inappropriate and dysfunctional behavioral outbursts. Most importantly, she should have been more “sensitive” to the tough times many are going through right now by toning down the cost, display of wealth and magnitude of her Jubilee. Focusing the celebration on helping her fellow citizens in need would have shown her to be an exceptional leader worthy of history’s adulation.
