Thoughts around the Platinum Jubilee

This last four days have seen us mark the Platinum Jubilee of our Queen, Queen Elizabeth IInd with a number of events across the days nationally and, of course, events in your own immediate area.

Thursday saw the Trooping The Colour, which normally is held on a Saturday to which tens of thousands of people from the United Kingdom and beyond stood for hours to observe and in their own way play a part in.

The junior royals such as Prince George arrived with Duchess of Cornwall in their own carriage, looking well turned out before taking their place.

Sadly the Queen was not able to be at the event due to her difficulties with walking and associated discomfort, which can be well understood at the age of 96 years but she was at the balcony at Buckingham Palace, see here talking to Prince Michael of Kent.

Prince Charles stepped in with Prince William to take Her Majesties place at the actual trooping the colour on horseback, ably filling in, something that in the near future we will be most likely to see.

There was a big flypast of airplanes from those that saw service during WW2 such as the Lancaster Bomber to more modern ones.

A special formation was flown to create the magic number of 70 in the skies.

 

That was concluded by a great show by the RAF display team, the Red Arrows, showing the colours of our flag.

Friday saw a service of thanksgiving for her at Saint Paul's Cathedral paying tribute to her steadfast service both in our country, seeing out a good number of Prime Minsters which by convention she calls upon to serve the country and in international affairs, not least as the figurehead of the Commonwealth of Nations comprised in the main by former parts of our Empire and others who find its structure helpful.

In an age of much change and uncertainty, a constant who has great experience and knowledge of world affairs, its peoples and cultures but who has adapted to change has a great value in our constitutional settlement that people of differing political views here respect.

We have a Head of State beyond the tribalism of national politics who unifies us, provides leadership where needed and who belongs to all regardless of race, creed or gender.

That is something I for one am glad of.

Challenges

Typically this gets typed up across the weekend unless I'm most likely to be away in which instance I'd try to do it before hand and if noteworthy I'd make the next entry about that event.

That way hopefully I keep this blog fresh which is at times a uphill struggle when you bear in mind how long it has been going trying to recall if you covered something and if anything has changed around it to the point revisiting a topic is worth while.

This last eighteen or so months has had lots of challenges and "zombie crazyness" in it and just as in some ways thing were getting a bit better for being able to see each other, travel a bit more and generally have more of a life we seem stuck in a world wide problem getting things to where they need to be and facing a energy crisis.

While all of this is a bit of a worry and some it's better to focus on what we can do and that is meet each others needs as people rather than the things we can't change ourselves, reaching out to anyone who appears to be struggling.

If you can, try to get out a bit and stroll, enjoying your surroundings, noticing what is going on rather being glued to your smartphone or laptop and talk with people even if it might be a simple hello.

Play games or do things that leave you feeling happy, content and are fun, ideally with others where you can which for those of us who are Smol ought to be easy but sometimes isn't and let your little person out.

Our wellbeing matters.