A personal perspective on the Coronation celebrations...

As someone who was not in the least bit interested in watching the Coronation or 'celebrating ' and is also ambivalent towards the monarchy in general, it got me thinking about the last time the UK as a nation celebrated and spent money that many at the time argued was desperately needed to prop up the crumbling economy.

'One offs' that happen only every couple of decades or more are not an issue. The goodwill and marketing value an event like the Coronation event highlights something that the UK has always been good at and , as a marketing tool benefits both industry and commerce.
Long term, the monarchy needs downsizing considerably. I don't mean selling off the crown jewels (literally) but the civil list needs reviewing , minor royals an elite with the staff and 'hangers on' need 'trimming'.

Sometimes the heart rules the head. Yes, Brexit, the Pandemic, millions spent on helping Ukraine, Truss and Govt policies over the past decade have all hit the UK hard. Nevertheless, sometimes a boost to morale is needed.

6 years after the War, the Labour Govt. initiated the Festival of Britain with the express statement it would be non-political. UK was basically broke and similar voices were raised arguing we could not afford it. It did however, raise morale considerably. Times have changed admittedly but people are people and a large majority of the UK population, then and now, enjoyed the events and the albeit very temporary relief it gave to day to day worries. ......

In 1951 towns and cities across Britain still bore the devastating scars of the Second World War which had ended only six years earlier. After more than a decade of rationing, austerity and making-do, gloomy post-war Britain needed a lift. The government’s antidote was ‘The Festival of Britain’, a national exhibition designed with the aim of promoting a feeling of recovery and demonstrating Britain’s contribution to civilisation past, present and future in the arts, science and technology and industrial design.

 

I thought they tried 'The Festival of Brexit' last year? Enormous and costly flop, wasn't it?

 

? Genuinely, that one passed me by. What was it? It does though, sound like it was targeted for domestic consumption only whereas the Coronation event attracted Global media attention. Never got a whiff of the former in Italy whereas the media was full of the Coronation (for some reason the Italians are fascinated by the royals)

 

I agree with the sentiment but you're flogging a dead horse with a lot of people who seem to be grumpy all the time. I've a mate who is just anti-royal so it wouldn't matter what they did, he'd still moan about it even if you could prove it made millions from tourism.

 

I am anti-royal but the alternative of an elected head of state doesn't particularly appeal. The ideal solution for me would be a slimmed down Royal family along the lines of Spain. Also the return of vast swathes of our country owned (stolen) by the crown to the common people. Oh and they should all get jobs and support themselves.

 

Aye, here you go!

Unboxed: Creativity in the UK - Wikipedia