It takes a long time in a short life for you to be able to make your mind up about big things. Take politics for example. You spend your adolescent years either not watching the news or at least not watching until the sports section comes on - that might just be me though - not really paying attention to anything that happens in the world around you. Why do you need to at that age? Let the grown-ups deal with that whilst you find new things to make out of old bits of cardboard or undertake the more important task of training up your Pokemon. It's not until young people hit their teens that they start to notice 'important things'. It's fascinating to look back at the period of your lifetime and the things that were happening in the world that you were blissfully unaware of. Politics might not be a great example because we all take to that in different ways (and at different times) but this weekend brings fresh opportunity to explore the nation's relationship with the Monarchy. As the Queen gets set to strap herself into a golden life-jacket this afternoon I ask you this: what does the Monarchy mean to you?
My initial comment might be seen as being a little bit premature for many. Not until about 2 years ago did I start to form a monarchist/republican set of opinions for myself. University, more than anything else, was the catalyst for my exploration about how I felt having a Royal Family and all that that brings to this country. I explored my thoughts on the matter in a post in my previous blog Ramblings of a Teenager which you can read here. At that point I was in the depths of studying the public law of the United Kingdom at university and I thought I had made my mind up about things. Then the Royal Wedding came along and, being a stubborn soul, I recited the familiar 'it's a waste of money, like hell am I going to watch it' routine. Those of you that have read that post will know that I went so far the other way that I could barely remember my initial argument.
It was on that very day last summer that my views of the Monarchy started to mature and, like a fine wine (how cliche), they have become better over time. I am now able to sit down with myself a say that I know what my feelings are. My knowledge of the Monarchy as the Sovereign of the UK is a little bit patchy now because I've had to learn so much for my degree since but I still feel that their importance lies elsewhere. During that afternoon I saw thousands of people all over the world coming together to watch one of the younger members of the Royal Family wed a 'commoner'. With the power to unite that I had thought was reserved by huge sporting events, that single afternoon in April answered so many questions for myself and millions other about the power of the Monarchy in this country - the power, that is, to bring us all together.
This afternoon I will sit down with my Mum and Dad and watch the Diamond Jubilee Pageant as it rolls down the Thames under a dark and wicked looking sky in London. But, as if to spite the weather, people will be out in their thousands (some have even guessed at crowds of over a million) lining the banks of the Thames. At the front will be the Queen along with her family, spearheading a flotilla that will not only dazzle but will define yet another chapter in the recent history of the Monarchy. Flags and banners will be waived under the black clouds that will seem, for once in Britain at least, the last thing on people's minds and the scenes that will be witnessed will serve as a reminder that most of the United Kingdom holds a secret place inside of them for the Royal Family. At a time in history when the rough seems to be more prevalent than the smooth, I feel that we need something like this lift spirits and to make us all believe in the same thing for once.
Thanks for reading and I hope that everyone is well on this Diamond Jubilee weekend.
Martin
