LONDON – Britain wrapped up four fun days of tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday with street fairs, picnics and a contest, following a star-studded Saturday night concert at Buckingham Palace , which provided a pop culture mix performed by Rod Stewart. Neil Diamond’s single, “Sweet Caroline.”
The good times, as the song says, never seemed so good.
But if millions of Britons revel in the Queen’s Platinum Celebration – or at least in the lazy pleasures of late spring, long weekend – it could be a wise case to celebrate. party before the bar closes.
On Monday, Britain pivoted from the queen’s 70-year reign to a new political struggle over Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as well as fears that the country faced “stagflation”, a double impact. of recession and inflation hit Britain for the last time after the queen. marked her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said: “I’m pretty sure the jubilant atmosphere is a four-day wonder, and the national mood will turn sour again quite a bit. fast”.
“It feels like we’re all waiting for something to happen,” he added. “Let the storm or the dam break. But it’s hard to predict if it will happen.”
A moment of unease pervaded the festival when comedian Lee Mack greeted 22,000 spectators at the concert, held at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the gates of Buckingham Palace. “Finally,” he jokes, “we can say the words “party” and “gate”, and that is a positive thing.”
The crowd laughed at the mention of the long smoldering scandal involving lockout parties at 10 Downing Street, which the London tabloids inevitably nicknamed “Partygate”.
For Mr Johnson, who was seated behind Prince Charles and other family members in the royal box, it was the second slap on the wrist in a happy year. On Friday, the boos drowned out the cheers as he and his wife, Carrie, climbed the steps of St. Paul to give thanksgiving for the queen.
The scandal looks set to flare up again: The Sunday Times of London reported on June 4 that Mr Johnson could face a vote of no confidence as soon as this week, with an unnamed rebel in the Party. Conservatives estimate that lawmakers have crossed the threshold. out of 54 letters calling for votes.
Mr Johnson’s political obituary has been written before, including at other times during this scandal. He survived being fined by the police for breaking the lockout rule, as well as publishing an internal report on the case, which blamed him for Downing Street’s drinking culture.
However, Mr Johnson’s critics have pointed to a new poll carried out ahead of a key Parliamentary election in Wakefield, a longtime Labor area that the Conservatives won in the 2019 election on Mr Johnson’s promise to “Get Brexit done.” The seat, in West Yorkshire, was opened because former Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan was jailed for child molestation.
The survey, conducted by pollster James Johnson, shows Labor leading by 20 percentage points over the Conservatives. Mr Johnson, who conducts polls for former Prime Minister Theresa May, wrote on Twitter that the main reason people gave for planning a Labor vote was aversion to the prime minister.
If the Conservatives are removed from that seat, as well as another, in Tiverton and Honiton – where the incumbent, Neil Parish, resigns after admitting he was viewing pornography on his phone while in the House of Commons – political analysts say Tory lawmakers panic will trigger a vote of no confidence.
Even if Mr Johnson survives, some predict he will face a miserable winter, as the country has to deal with soaring food and fuel prices. The International Monetary Fund estimated last month that consumer prices will rise 13% this year and next. Other forecasters say a recession is inevitable.
For all that remains, Britons can be forgiven for having lived for the past 70 years, an era in which the queen anchored the country through previous waves of political, economic and social turmoil.
Some Key Moments in Queen Elizabeth’s Reign
“You laugh and cry with us and most importantly, have been there with us, for the last 70 years,” said Prince Charles, who spoke at the concert and called his 96-year-old mother “Queen.” and “The Mummy.”
On Sunday, the queen, dressed in blue, made another appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, after missing most of the festivities because of difficulty getting around. A crowd of several thousand people greeted her with “Christ the Queen.”
At the concert the night before, Elizabeth stole the show with a pre-recorded shot in which she shares a fragile ice cream tea with Paddington Bear, voiced by actor Ben Whishaw.
The two bond over their love of marmalade bread, when the queen pulls one out of her handbag. Then, sipping rhythmic spoons into their cups of tea, they hit the familiar opening beat of “We Will Rock You” as the British band Queen began playing their hit song on stage.
The scene is reminiscent of the 2012 Olympic Games, including an even more elaborate sketch of the queen and James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, parachuting into the stadium from a helicopter during the opening ceremony. .
On Sunday, a carnival, with marching bands and dragons, filled the square where Diana Ross, Alicia Keys and Duran Duran performed. In towns across England, people set up tables, wrapped in red-white-blue-green, and served cucumber sandwiches and Pimm cocktails to their neighbours.
Alina Wallace, who works in public relations and prepared a pitcher of gin and grapefruit in London’s Honeybrook Road, said: ‘It’s a great opportunity to connect people who don’t know each other.
A few streets away, Hannah Stanislaus stood behind a table filled with cheese pies, Victorian muffins, muffins, shortbreads and fruitcakes. She said, in the past four days, she attended four street parties.
“This is the official return of the British people after Covid,” she said. “The Jubilee has provided an opportunity for people to reconcile.”
Emma Bubola contribution report.
