I have two lasting memories of the Silver Jubilee celebrations (I know what you’re saying – “You don’t look old enough!” But believe me, I am!). The first memory is of the Wheelbarrow Race I entered at the village’s celebration at the playing field. My friend held my legs and I walked on my hands in front of him. And we won! In fact, we won by a country mile from the nearest competition (we had been practising and were quite good at it). I’ve probably got a certificate somewhere. Certainly, it was a proud moment.
The second memory is not strictly about the Jubilee, but about a bicycle treasure hunt I did with friends a few years later: my dad had set the clues all over the Dengie Peninsula where I lived at the time, and one of them had pointed us to my home – and to the “living room” to be precise. I can’t remember the clue, except that the last part of it was very cryptic, and my friends and I ended up saying, “Er” as we thought about what it could mean. As soon as we said, “Er,” my dad said, “Yes, that’s it!” He wouldn’t explain further but did repeat himself every time we wondered out loud with the word, “Er.” In the end, he gave us a bit more of a clue and we saw what he was getting at. On a high shelf above the window was a collection of mugs – one of which was a souvenir from the Silver Jubilee with a picture of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the letters “ER”. The final clue was in the mug!
I wonder how many people will buy a Platinum Jubilee mug. As I look at the changing world around me, it seems to me that the nation’s pro-Royal sentiment has weakened over the years. Certainly, it doesn’t look as if the scale of the events of 1977 will be repeated. Serious allegations about Prince Andrew’s conduct and a constant stream of articles in the press about Harry and Meghan have clearly damaged the Windsor family’s reputation. The recent opening of Parliament provided a golden opportunity (almost a platinum opportunity!) for their critics to cry foul – one wag remarked, “[the Queen’s speech] was a speech in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis that didn’t mention anything about helping people afford to live or eat. The speech was given by a man sat on a throne next to a golden hat that cost more than Chelsea Football Club, on behalf of a government that’s run by a man who spent £200K decorating his flat and another bloke who’s married to a billionaire.”
Whatever the critics say and whatever truth there is in their criticism, as we approach the Platinum Jubilee, I find myself admiring Her Majesty the Queen more and more. Perhaps this is unsurprising: as she has made clear on many occasions, she follows the example of the Lord Jesus Christ; the one with all authority in heaven and earth, who came not to be served, but to serve. O that others would do the same! Whilst our Queen has kept the promises she made at 21 to devote her whole life to the service of her people, we have a Prime Minister ready to rip up a deal he signed two years ago. And whilst our Queen sat alone in church at the funeral of her husband of over 70 years to be in solidarity with her people, our Prime Minister broke Covid restrictions by attending a party. Her Majesty is not perfect (no one is), but I think she has done and is doing a good job of upholding commendable virtues and setting a positive example to us all.
God save our gracious Queen! And may we, like her, give our lives in service.