The sad events of the past few weeks have been marked by the pomp and pageantry of majesty that few of us have witnessed before or will witness again,. On Friday, the final day of official mourning by The Queen and Royal Family, a memorial service is held in Westminster Abbey for The Queen's younger sister Princess Margaret, who died on 9th February. Attended by The Queen and other Members of the Royal family, it is an occasion at which representatives of the many charities, Regiments and other organizations which benefited from the Princess's attentive patronage over half a century, will have an opportunity to give thanks for her life.
The Princess 's patronage covered a wide range of activities and communities from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Girl Scouts and the Royal Ballet, to the British Forces Broadcasting Service, the British equivalent of American Forces Network which has spawned so many household names in British broadcasting since its inception immediately after WW2.
Golden Jubilee Celebrations
And so a chapter in British history is closed and we turn to the future and our celebrations for The Queen's Golden Jubilee. There has been a sudden and dramatic surge of interest in participation since the death of The Queen Mother. Communities, towns and cities across the United Kingdom are belatedly arranging to join in the festivities with fairs, concerts, carnivals and street parties which they hope The Queen will grace with her presence on Her Royal Progress through the Land.
British broadsheet The Times quotes one local government official from Sheffield as saying: "People seem suddenly very interested in the jubilee", prompting the newspaper to comment that they see 'tangible evidence of perhaps the Queen Mother's most significant legacy: a transformation in the fortunes and popularity of the Royal Family'. The Times is not alone in commenting on the surging groundswell of goodwill for The Queen and her family that we have witnessed following the death of the Queen Mother.
The majority of events will be concentrated over the weekend of official celebrations scheduled for 1st - 4th June, with the accent on 3rd June. This will be an exciting time for a visitor to be in London, or practically anywhere in Britain. Local communities across the country are organizing Jubilee Street Parties and fireworks, a tradition that was born in London's East End at King George V's Silver Jubilee on 6 May, 1935. Then it seemed as if every street in the country had an open air party with a feast of jellies, blancmanges and sandwiches for the children and a "knees up" that evening for the parents. It was a widespread display of deep affection for the King that dazed and surprised him and his Consort Queen Mary. The Queen was a nine year old Princess then. I suspect that she will be equally dazed and surprised by our display of warm affection this Jubilee year as her grandparents were 67 years ago. The prize for the largest party must go to North London's Bushy Park which has promised The Queen a turnout of 20,000 for the mammoth tea party they are organizing for her visit.
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