A Right Royal Weekend
Why the Queen matters to so many of us
If you live in the UK, you will know that we have just come to the end of a four-day weekend celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. We had an extra Bank Holiday so we could all join in.
It will undoubtedly be a very long time before we celebrate on this scale again. Prince Charles, now in his seventies, is probably too old to make it even to a Silver Jubilee when he finally becomes king, and his son William who will succeed him, is already in his fortieth year. It will most likely be way after our lifetimes that the United Kingdom has a young monarch again, let alone a female one.
I'm fascinated by different people's approaches to celebrating this event. Not everyone is caught up in Royal fever, but many people consider the Queen someone to celebrate. Most of us have never known any other monarch in our lifetimes.
Some people set up camp in the Mall to get a front-row view. That is dedication and something for their children to remember for the rest of their lives! Dressed in patriotic red, white and blue, they are full of joy and camaraderie when reporters interview them.
But some people see the long weekend as a chance to get away. Hence, the airports were overwhelmed as many tried to escape the country.
