Despite the typical disappointing British weather, across the country, the bank holiday weekend saw street parties, parades and performances celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum jubilee. Approximately 3,673 public events and plenty more private celebrations have been recorded across the country.
It is clear that many are eager to celebrate the Queen, who remains popular with the British public and stands at the top of the YouGov royal family favourability tracker with an 81% positive response.
However, a YouGov survey of 3,389 British people revealed that 56% of respondents did not intend on celebrating the jubilee.
Yasin Bhatti from Birmingham commented that “A majority of us can’t afford to rejoice at anything especially a gross waste of public money on an event for the rich.” Lynn White stated, “I will not be celebrating as I don’t like them.”
This raises the question: is the UK becoming less patriotic?
Scandals
Recent scandals surrounding the royal family, as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal duties after suffering racist remarks, and Prince Andrew’s lawsuit, have undoubtedly inflamed a lack of respect and patriotism for the royals.
Meanwhile, with the cost-of-living soaring, as inflation reaches 9%, the highest rate for 40 years, many did not have the money to throw at Jubilee parties. The public were rightly disdainful that £15 million was spent on the Jubilee Pageant on June 5.
A number of social media infographics critiquing the extravagant celebrations are circulating. Many state that expensive jubilee celebrations were tone deaf at a time when record numbers of people are needing food banks. They argue that the royals we celebrate do not care for the needs of the public.
While young people and students no doubt enjoyed the bank holiday weekend, with many captioning their posts on social media ‘Happy Platty Jubes’, the majority did not seem to be directly celebrating the event.
