Lead-up to the Diamond Wedding Aniversary, 20 November 2007

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by jcbcode99

Well, I am disappointed because I think that all wedding anniversaries should be celebrated--especially something as monumental as this one. However, I applaud Her Majesty for thinking of the econonmy in Britian and how it affects everyone. She is a fair and honest lady.

I believe she'll have the same guests over to BP - after all they all have made time for her on this occasion and probably nothing better to do.

[Lakshmi]

I have mixed feeling about queen's decision. I am sorry for friends who organized a wonderful party for her and Phillip. On the other hand, I admire her fairness and trying to be so supportive to her citizens. Overall I think it was good decision because it seemed very honest from queen side.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Lakshmi

I have mixed feeling about queen's decision. I am sorry for friends who organized a wonderful party for her and Phillip. On the other hand, I admire her fairness and trying to be so supportive to her citizens. Overall I think it was good decision because it seemed very honest from queen side.

Yes, but one reason why the people adore their RF is that they have a "Royal lifestyle" and if people want to throw a bash for her wedding anniversary then I think she could have gone for it. I wouldn't have minded at all!

But maybe it was a soft rebuke for the government (if it's true what one article said that the queen has at the moment a bit of a frosty relationship) to consider people's situation a bit more and save a bit more on government expenses.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by jcbcode99

However, I applaud Her Majesty for thinking of the econonmy in Britian and how it affects everyone. She is a fair and honest lady.

It won't make any difference to the man/woman on the street whether HM has a party to celebrate her anniversary or not. While some may have over extended themselves, others will not notice a minor glitch in the economy. By cancelling any party, if indeed she has, (which considering the source, I doubt), she will have added to the downswing.

[charlottestreasures]

It is a shame really that she cannot accept this gift from her friends.
She has always been careful to do the right thing.
You just feel that it would have been nice for her to be able to go out and have a splashy time for once. The other members, especially the younger ones sure do.

[COUNTESS]

I agree with Skydraggon that this will make little difference to the man on the street. I think it is a great disconnect. You live very lavishly, but cancel some nebulus party to show you care. Doesn't work. When a person who has everything, cancels something that is a "spit in the ocean", it is nothing, but interesting press.

[Elspeth]

The anniversary isn't till November and she's cancelling in March? Sounds as though she thinks the country is in for a long downturn.

[wbenson]

The anniversary was last November. The party had to be delayed due to the trip to CHOGM in Uganda.

[PrinceOfCanada]

Good for her. It's an incredibly political thing to say (for her, anyway), and an excellent way for her to rebuke the government as said above.

[sgl]

I think it is strange that she planned something at the Ritz. I agree with Madame Royale when she said that she wouldn't use any other venue with the two palaces at her disposal. It will be interesting to see what the Queen does in regards to the celebration.

[tommy1716]

Originally Posted by sgl

I think it is strange that she planned something at the Ritz. I agree with Madame Royale when she said that she wouldn't use any other venue with the two palaces at her disposal. It will be interesting to see what the Queen does in regards to the celebration.

HM has had parties at the Ritz before. The party was being organised on her and Prince Philip's behalf by others, so they probs thought it would be nice not to have it "at home" lol. It just happpens home is two massive buildings with fab state rooms that could be used.

[PrincessofEurope]

well she did have a private party at Clarance House hosted by Charles when all the close family attended so i dont really think that she needed another one so long after the event surely they could have fitted one in after the CHOGM in december

[Skydragon]

In 2008 Britain stares down a rocky road: borrowing conditions are tightening, consumer confidence is crumbling and even inflationary pressures are keeping central bankers on a tightrope. But if even the Queen has to cancel diamond-studded evenings at the Ritz in the name of the credit crunch, the situation might be worse than we think

A Very Royal Recession - Forbes.com

All the reports seem to be based on the one story from the D***** Mail, quoting their ubiquitous unnamed 'friend'!

[angela]

Threre is actually no reason to doubt the story as I can remember at the time of the Thanksgiving service reading reports that there would be a private party in March'08. The same thing happened to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Coronation and 80th birthday. There was a service at Westminster Abbey /St Paul's in June'03/June'06 and private parties at the Ritz the following January'07/December'06.(I think my dates are right). So there is a tradition of holding a more informal party to mark major occasions quite some time after the event and the Ritz seems to be the place of choice to do this.

[wbenson]

Originally Posted by angela

Threre is actually no reason to doubt the story as I can remember at the time of the Thanksgiving service reading reports that there would be a private party in March'08.

I don't necessarily doubt that there was a party planned, just that it was canceled, and if it was canceled, it was canceled because of the recession.

[Duchess]

i'm not sure i understand this at all. as long as the tax payer isn't footing the bill then why would she feel the need to cancel? if it's being paid for by friends or herself then i think the public wouldn't be at all against it.

[PrinceOfCanada]

Originally Posted by Duchess

i'm not sure i understand this at all. as long as the tax payer isn't footing the bill then why would she feel the need to cancel? if it's being paid for by friends or herself then i think the public wouldn't be at all against it.

One word: appearances. For HM to throw (or have thrown for her) a lavish party while the rest of the country is staring down the long barrel of a recession smacks somewhat of Marie Antoinette's apocryphal "Let them eat cake."

And we know what happened after that, don't we? While current royals would certainly keep their heads attached to their necks, they're somewhat concerned about anything that would separate their bottoms from their thrones.

[jcbcode99]

I believe that the Queen is very mindful of the recession and does not want to be perceived as unaware of what is going on in her country. I think it speaks volumes about her character to cancel an anniversary party that she is not even throwing. I do agree that it would have been nice for her and Prince Phillip to celebrate with a big event (it is 60 years, after all) but having a nice party at Buckingham or Windsor will undoubtably be lovely as well. But, even with the magnificance of the royal residences, perhaps Her Majesty was looking forward to going somewhere else for once!

[Mermaid1962]

If the story is true that the party was cancelled because of the Recession, I think that it harkens back to the example set by the Queen's parents during WWII. Perhaps she's also making a statement to other members of her family about how important it is to "make a good impression".

[Russophile]

Is there a recession going on in England? There are lots and lots of people in the US saying there is one now, but we won't know for sure until July when the reports come out which they always seem to forget about. I think their own doom and gloom will drive the market!