LONDON (Associated Press) – A little blush on the cheeks, the bright tiara is straightened over white braids and the queen is ready for “the jubilee” – at least her picture in the wax museum Madame Tussauds is beautiful in its place.
We can’t help but speculate whether the real Queen Elizabeth II, now 96, really kicked off the decade partying in her private rooms or if she’s still gathering strength. From Thursday, June 2, her kingdom wants to celebrate for four days the 70-year accession of “Her Majesty” to the throne. Around Buckingham Palace – the official center of her reign – it’s really like a hornet’s nest.
Dozens of mobile toilets are moved from A to B on trucks, assistants dressed in high-visibility neon colors work back and forth, and red, blue and white flags flutter on construction site scaffolding. In nearby St James’s Park, huge power generators have been set up to provide the power needed for four days. Two teenagers who don’t look like ordinary royals wear their headscarves and take a selfie in front of the oversized “Union Jacks”, the British flags lining the wide street in front of the palace to the left and right.
Will the queen appear?
Manuela Lassau came from Germany with her children and is fascinated by the way the “mall”, over which thousands of soldiers walk during “Trooping the Color”, turns into a festive flair. You can only truly understand the importance as an adult when you realize how long the Queen has been at the head of the kingdom, she says. “But you’re a little worried that that’s going to be over soon.”
Craig Prescott, a property expert at Bangor University, thinks that’s what makes the upcoming anniversary so special. Many people realize that this will likely be the Queen’s last “jubilee”, and possibly her “last great moment”, he says in an interview with dpa. That is why her health and the question of what events she will show herself is very important for many people. There is certainly potential for disappointment.
So the new strategy for Buckingham Palace is: only announce shortly in advance whether or not the Queen will come, so as not to disappoint any expectations. But in this case, it may not help much. The traditional appearance on the balcony after the Christmas procession and service at St Paul’s Cathedral are the dates the King is expected to attend.
Celebrate in times of crisis
The long-planned festivities come at a time when Britain is fighting many battles at once. The British government has committed to playing a prominent role in the Western response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. At the same time, energy and food prices back home have skyrocketed, and many Britons are asking themselves if they should instead freeze or starve. In one survey, nearly 40 percent of citizens surveyed stated that property was a luxury that the state could not actually afford. Then there is the outrageous Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who, in a recent investigative report on the Party Gate affair, accused him of leadership failure and serious misconduct in Downing Street.
“Having such a huge party at a tough time can be tough,” admits expert Prescott. On the other hand, a Queen’s anniversary can also be an occasion to get together and share joy. Britain does not have such traditional holidays as Thanksgiving in the United States. “We count on such a memory to celebrate our great patriotic moments.”
In these wonderful moments, the organizers left nothing to chance. Anyone wanting to get from A to B in central London has had to make detours for weeks. “Closed from May 3 to mid-June” is written on yellow signs at several streets and intersections. Marching music, drums, and the clatter of horses’ hooves have been heard throughout the palace grounds for months. If everything is to be perfect, a lot of training is necessary.
Postponing the curfew in bars
In popular British pubs, record business is being sensed after the long lull of the pandemic: As curfews in honor of the Queen have been generously postponed during festivities, 90 million pints can be sold, according to the Beer and Pub Industry Association estimates.
While most Britons can look forward to an extra ‘jubilee’ holiday, for others the big celebration means above all: lots of work. A security guy has his hands full a week before the start, but he takes it easy. “It’s okay,” he said, watching the security checkpoint in front of the palace and steering one of the cars. “The main thing is that the Queen is happy.”