What are you doing to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee?

[Botany]

I myself am thinking of getting royally drunk. Long live the queen.

BTW who is paying for all that royal nonsense?

[tanyev]

1. I'm going grocery shopping!

[hlthe2b]

2. I watched a documentary of her life...I'm no Royalist promoter, but it was interesting...

Last edited Sat Jun 2, 2012, 06:55 PM - Edit history (2)

I leave any judgement of the entire concept of Royal family in this day and age to the Brits.

But, IMO "ole Liz" did earn quite a bit of respect during her early years--especially during WWII. I sort of love that, as a princess, she served in the military, driving big trucks and ambulances and serving as a mechanic as well. Hey, that's more than the elitists in this country, (Mitt Romney come to mind?) have done. I think she is a product of her time....

[Raine]

5. Yeah I've watched a couple things like that, I find them interesting. nt

[otohara]

3. I Think It's Creepy Her Grandchildren Refer to Her as The Queen

vs Grandmother.
I watched a few moments of Katie Couric and both the boys - the Queen this, the Queen that!

Then the story about how someone else breaks in her shoes, so they're comfy for her majesty.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

12. When I was young I knew a member of the French aristocracy

from a wealthy old family that traced its bloodline to the nobility. He (along with his brothers and sister) referred to his own mother as "Madame, my mother" when addressing her ("madame, ma mere&quot .

[otohara]

31. I Prefer Lady Otohara

and my royal cat is Her Imperial Highness Princess Kiko of Japan.

Just so you know

[CTyankee]

52. In French, the usage of Madame and Monsieur is just the way they speak.

For instance, an American might say "Good Morning!" and that would be perfectly acceptable. But the French always use the honorific, so it is "Bonjour, Madame! (or Monsieur)." It is just a difference of custom, that is all. Don't read too much into it...

[Igel]

29. Got new shoes last fall.

Two pair. Casual dress shoes.

Wore them for the first time on consecutive days.

Could barely walk the third day.

I was 52.

It was also when the principal decided to observe me in my classroom. I sit like a lump and score low. Or I gingerly move, wincing with each step. And score low. Gee. Thanks.

Now, let's say I'm 86 and, for whatever reason, wear 3-4 new pairs of shoes per week. Not casual dress shoes, but formal dress shoes.

That would go on for a few days. Then, to everybody's surprised, I'd be in a wheelchair. 'Nuff said.

Get rid of the pomp and you'd get rid of what the pomp necessitates. But this smacks of asking somebody to down beer after beer and then complaining when he needs to pay the rent.

[otohara]

34. Shoes

I had Polio and buying shoes has always been a pain. I'd have to get two people, one size 7, one 5 - then after they were broken in, I'd only wear one of the two shoes... one from each person.

Then there's the brace.

[NYC Liberal]

41. I dunno — First Ladies here often refer to their husband at "the president" or "Mr President"

when they're in public. I think it's used affectionately, though, so maybe that's the same with "The Queen"?

[renate]

44. that's because they respect the office, not just the person

It's true that Princess Margaret would draw herself up and say "Do you mean the King?" when somebody referred to her father because she was pompous and full of herself. She had a reputation for wanting to hang out with the cool kids--musicians, actors, artists--and act like she was just one of the gang, but as soon as they got too familiar, bam! she would turn into a mean girl. But with the exception of Edward VIII, most members of the royal family respect the office and that's why they seem to put the Queen on a pedestal--because even to her family members, she really is on a pedestal because of what she represents.

I saw the interview too and noticed that Harry said he calls her "Granny"; I didn't catch the part of the interview that you referred to but I'm not surprised that he would just refer to the Queen as The Queen when speaking about her to a third person.

But I certainly agree that it sounds weird to American ears.

[SwissTony]

72. Prince Charles did something to Ozzie pop guru Ian "Molly" Meldrum

Molly referred to "your Mum". Charles looked at him and said "Are you referring to Her Majesty, The Queen"?

[daaron]

4. Masturbating. ;)

Just kidding!

[Harry Monroe]

6. To pictures of the Queen?

[daaron]

16. Ewwww....

Thanks a lot! I was almost there!

[msanthrope]

60. You are a pretty adept one-handed poster!

Welcome to DU!

[alittlelark]

7. Having a 16th Birthday party for my son!

[monmouth]

8. I'm so friggin' old I remember watching the entire thing on a black and white tv (the

largest one in the TV store) in our grammar school auditorium. It was wonderful, she was lovely and you could tell, strong. Because she was female there was a lot of hand-wringing etc. with many, she proved them wrong. God Bless the Queen!

[watrwefitinfor]

37. That makes two of us.

It was quite moving to such a little girl. I watched it at home on the big console tv with the tiny little 12x12 inch screen.

I'm so old I even thought I remembered watching her marry Phillip, but then I looked it up and that was in 1947, before we got a tv. Maybe I watched the marriage on someone else's tv. Or maybe I just remember the photographs.

Wat

[xxqqqzme]

49. I'm that old as well.

I remember the fuzzy, little b/w picture sitting with my grandparents in their den.

[femmocrat]

54. I remember it too... that was when we first got a TV.

[frogmarch]

62. I thought I had too, but it was

her coronation I saw. We didn't have a TV even then, but we were visiting relatives in NY who did.

[tammywammy]

9. "most of the expenses, apart from security, are being picked up by private individuals and sponsors"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/queens-diamond-jubilee-poised-to-outdo-royal-weddings-pomp/article2327411/

[wandy]

10. I would have been happily unaware of the momentous occasion, that is if you hadn't brought it up....

Gee Thanks.
Just one more thing to ignore.

[Botany]

27. So is my getting a God Save the Queen tattoo with the Queen's face on it over the top?

BTW I really didn't think anything of it before I posted my question .....
I wonder when people are going to grow the hell up and realize that
no such thing as royalty exists. We don't have fairies, dragoons, merlins,
giant gators in the sewers' of NYC, or people that have royal blood in this
world.

[Siwsan]

11. I was in London for her Silver Jubilee

At one point, she was standing right in front of me, on her way to the Thanksgiving Service. I stood in a crowd of hundreds of thousands, (reportedly 1,000,000 in the area) in front of Buckingham Palace to sing Happy Birthday to the Queen. I also saw Lord Mountbattan, practicing for the Beating of the Retreat. It really was an amazing event - one of the best times of my life.

[beveeheart]

13. Nothing!

[eShirl]

14. Bugger, I'm fresh out of diamonds and gin.

[SoutherDem]

15. She is having a Diamond Jubilee?

Just kidding, I heard about it yesterday on NPR.

But to answer your question, nothing she's not my queen.

[awoke_in_2003]

17. I will be using...

DR Harris Shaving Soap. DR Harris is a great soap, and hold the royal charter of the Prince of Wales.

[MichaelMcGuire]

18. No chance

[petronius]

19. I'll probably just send her an e-card from JibJab

I never even got a thank you note for that Barnes & Noble gift card I sent her last birthday, so I'm not going to make the effort this time...

[malthaussen]

20. The same thing I did for Victoria's

[DanteSr.]

21. Celebrating?

Not a thing. Royalty has no hold on me. Small gene pool if you ask me.

[Skinner]

71. Welcome to DU, DanteSr.

Glad you're here.

[KamaAina]

22. My favourite Englishwoman went to a Jubilee tea party at her church

near Manchester. Thing is, she's a raving anti-Royalist! But she is bright enough not to turn down a free feed.

[Mutiny In Heaven]

23. I'm British...

And I will be doing nothing.

Given that anyone who claims benefits in the country is demonised by the same media (and therefore the majority of the population) itching to deify these contemptible scroungers over the coming weekend, I find the hypocrisy of the entire affair both nauseating and grimly amusing.

[Botany]

32. Did you find the funeral of lady Di just a little "creepy?"

My brother and his wife working in Surrey at a space science lab and
one day the queen or some royal person was there on a visit and his
English office mate couldn't wait to show my Brother and my SIL how
exciting it was to watch the royal motor cycle escort "mount up" before
they took off ...... they all get on at the same time

BTW are you British over the pond or are you a Britain
in the states who lives here because you think we talk
funny?

BTW part 2 any chance you will be buying a Queen's Royal Tea Cake set up?




cheers!

[AJTheMan]

24. I'll celebrate the fact that we declared independence from that bullshit years ago.

[TheCowsCameHome]

25. Thanking heaven for the Atlantic Ocean.

So that we aren't considered being neighbors.

[RagAss]

26. As an American, I don't know a Queen from a Jack.....

But I wish her my best as a fellow human being.

[Marrah_G]

28. nothing

[Igel]

30. Sleeping in.

That didn't happen.

Fall back plan is watering the yard when it gets dark.

[Autumn]

33. I plan on buying a wonderful new hat for the occasion . Then I shall go

work in the garden. And in the cool of the evening I shall sip a glass of whiskey.

[pinboy3niner]

42. If your hat is anything like this...

...you may want to reverse the order and start with the whiskey.

[Autumn]

46. I have to say, I love that hat.

But I don't think I could drink enough whiskey to get myself to wear it.

[Tom Ripley]

35. Resenting the French

[vanlassie]

36. My daughter is an ExPat living in London.

They're having a block party on Monday- no work!

[JVS]

38. I got some crowns at Burger King today.

My family and I will be pretending its our Jubilee.

[frylock]

39. i'm celebrating a diamond jubilee to mark the anniversary of me not giving a shit..

about the queen of england. ripped from TV's Frank.

[RB TexLa]

40. Nothing

[GoneOffShore]

43. I'll raise a glass to Liz.

She's done a good job these past 50 years, overcoming the whacky husband, the one really whacky son and somewhat whackier daughter-in-law. Plus she had her mum second guessing her for years. And she had to deal with being nice to Maggie Thatcher, Edward Heath and the awful Tony Blair and David Cameron.

She's been a witness to history and is a link to a different time and a different world.

And who's paying for all those presidential libraries?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

64. It's been sixty years. She is older than Victoria, but has reigned for a shorter time.

Because Victoria was crowned when she was 19, and Elizabeth became queen when she was 25. She will surpass Victoria's reign sometime in 2015, according to the Daily Mail.
I figure she'll live forever like Queen Mum; Queen Mum made it to 101.



I enjoy looking at pictures of her fabulous jewelry collection. I'm so shallow.
Excuse me, that is spelled "jewellery" over there.

[renate]

45. I think it'll be broadcast live on the Today Show

If it is, I'll be getting up at 2 am to watch. I like the Queen. I wouldn't get up early for Andrew, Edward, or Harry, but I would for Charles (that's a 180-degree change for me), Anne, and William.

[rustydog]

47. Celebrating Amrica's independence from the throne of England

[Scurrilous]

48. I'm going to the dentist.

[Sea-Dog]

50. feudalism is awesome111!!!11!1

most disturbing picture ive seen in sometime
i know i shouldnt make fun of people that arent right (you can tell shes not right in the head before anyone asks. just look into the eyes)

[tabasco]

51. Who gives a shit?

Not me.

[malaise]

53. Avoiding everything about it

[DearAbby]

55. PLAY A VOLTA!

[-..__...]

56. Fuck the "Royals"...

[Vanje]

70. /\ This! /\

[WorseBeforeBetter]

57. Listen to The Smiths, knock back some gin...

and read all about it on DU.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

58. Playing God Save the Queen

by the Sex Pistols!

[zappaman]

67. In a similar vein...

watched FILTH AND THE FURY and said "fuck the queen" at least 3 times.
BTW, John Lydon lives round the corner from me. Nice fella who always says "hello".

[ohiosmith]

59. Fuck that bag and her parasitic ilk. Storm the castle, hang them from their heals, slit their

throats, and leave them for the vultures.

Alert now!

[Skip Intro]

61. Awesomely historic stuff. I like it. Wish I had the funds to

go to Canada and celebrate.

As it is, I'll probably tip a pint or two in her honor.

Very cool stuff.

Long live the Queen.

[unkachuck]

63. I'm mounding....

....all my dogs' shit into a large pile in the backyard and setting it on fire....

[Manifestor_of_Light]

65. I wish Brian May would play God Save the Queen again. He did it ten years ago:

&feature=related


I guess I'll have some of my Twinings Irish Breakfast (irish bastard?) tea like I do on many mornings...

[BlueCollar]

66. having a pint and

reflecting...

I'm very proud to be British today.

[TheManInTheMac]

68. I don't know much about how all this royalty stuff works,

but why doesn't she ever wear a crown? If I were a king, I think I'd wear a crown all the time, even in the tub.

And the proclamations I would make! Oh, but they would be zany!

[Retrograde]

73. Just remember your fellow DUers when it comes time to hand out the titles and sinecures

I, for one, would like to be Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports - no duties, and it comes with the cutest little castle!

You sound like a monarch after my own heart - what's the point in being king or queen if you can't have fun with all the crowns and stuff?

[mythology]

69. I will be skipping past the segments on both the BBC News Pod and BBC World News podcasts

No doubt there will be lengthy segments on both podcasts. The early Saturday podcast had 5 minutes on the Jubilee. I can see why it would be featured on the News Pod as that is more focused on British news, but I can't really see why it's so heavily featured on the World News podcast.

[MattBaggins]

74. I will be doing absolutely nothing at all

I could not care less about the Queen. Don't get me wrong; I am not anti-royal and I wish her no harm, I just don't care.

[raouldukelives]

75. A jubilee? Sweet! Debt forgiveness is awesome!

You rock Queen!

[Woody Woodpecker]

76. I just did an Elizabeth.

That, you have to figure out for yourself.

[karynnj]

77. Vicariously enjoying my 24 year old daughter's accounts of the celebration

A long term anglophile, she is completing an intensive masters program at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. This long weekend has been a break in her writing her thesis. She enjoyed the boats on the Thames yesterday and will watch the concert today. She also enjoyed the jubilee themed cupcake she ate. This is an incredible time for her to be living in London.