Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: 60 Years On The Throne; 4 Days Outside

One day just couldn’t match the level of excitement. It was a good thing the celebrations of the Queen’s completion of 60 years were extended to 4 days beginning on Saturday. Beginning with the 41 gun salute, the spectacular ceremony began with a bang but ending was a little unpredictable. Prince Phillip was unceremoniously absent from the celebrations on Tuesday due to a bladder infection which landed him in the hospital. Nonetheless, the show went on with the 86 year old Queen being accompanied by her son, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Prince William and wife Catherine and the youngest Prince Harry.

A year after the grand royal wedding of Prince Charles and Kate Middleton, all the eyes were on the queen as followed through the scheduled festival. The first stop on Saturday was Epsom Derby where the Queen lived her love for horses and racing though she doesn’t indulge in gambling. Next day was the Big Jubilee Lunch where people were motivated to share the meal with their neighbors and participate in the celebrations and later in the day, Thames hosted a beautiful pageant where the Queen travelled in the Royal Barge. Around 1,000 boats were down there at Thames with people cheering for the beloved Monarch. Much of the celebrations could be seen on the streets where people rejoiced, partied and participated in their own way. As much as 1 million people were present at Thames despite the unruly weather conditions. Republicans did try to make their presence felt with placards saying “Make Monarchy History” but they couldn’t drown down the voice of God Save the Queen which was the song in the air.

A fresh new day on Monday brought a concert at the Buckingham Palace in the honor of the lady of 6 decades in which Elton John and Paul McCartney paid their tributes. Also, 2012 beacons were lit all over Britain and its former colonies to mark the 60 years of presence of the Queen on the crown. The last day for the Queen began with a Thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral which was followed by a carriage Procession around London. Queen and the royal family also appeared on the balcony of her palace, smiling, waving and in full spirits.

Queen was overwhelmed by the public response and said that it was humbling. What’s really astounding is the fact that the royal family has finally recuperated from the tarnished image of the past 15 years. All the 4 sons of the Queen got divorced but the blow came when the public loved Diana was killed in an accident which raised many eyebrows leaving the royal family in rubble. Being the people’s princess, she was considered innocent and the victim though both Charles and Diana played their parts in breaking the marriage. Charles later married the alleged home wrecker and his longtime lover Camilla in 2005 who is now considered an asset. Addition of Kate Middleton in the family has brought back glamor which was absent since Princess Diana’s and the verdict today is that the royal family has recovered from the unflattering past.