I'm not normally that patriotic or that in favour (or care) of the
monarchy, but watching the thousand boats wave themselves up the Thames, I felt
a bit red, white and blue. Starting this blog magazine on the Jubilee Weekend,
there has to be some reference to the Queen. Not least in thanks for the extra day
off work.
The pageant is a royal operation in itself, organising the boats in
unpredictable weather, from small dragon boats rowed by cancer survivors, to
working boats, military ships, house boats to the crown jewels of the flotilla,
the Gloriana, rowed by ex-servicemen and Olympic medallists and the Royal
Barge. The red and gold adorned Barge, hosting the Royal family, has been
decked up inside like an Orient Express carriage. This has been in no way
half-baked, it is eclectic and eccentric as maybe, Britain does best. I heard
Australia have tried going bigger and better with a 5000-boat Pageant, but then
they don't have the Thames to contend with. Besides, I think the Queen is worth
more than 4000 boats.
The Queen looks regal and dignified in pearl white, covered in Swarovski crystals,
whilst the Duchess of Cambridge wears a fitted red dress and a tartan scarf, a
concession to the weather. Red is the favoured colour for most of the ladies.
Royal blue is notably under-represented. The crowds watching on the banks wear
fetching waterproof ponchos and hold Union Jack umbrellas. The rain is typically driving
down in contrast to the hot sun of last weekend. As ever, Britons brave the
downpours like we are accustomed to do as the cameras became more and more
misty. Well it had to rain, didn't it, it wouldn't be British otherwise!
As the pageant passes under the raised Tower Bridge, it reminds me
that the Royal family are a constant in British culture and I quite like this. The
National Anthem and fireworks from Tower Bridge are the finale. This River
Pageant is a carnival, not Rio, but pompous British-stylee, which kicks off a
patriotic summer for Britain.
Our way of celebrating - a bottle of champagne from our warm and
dry home, cheers!
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