It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that there is an event of national – nay, international – significance taking place this weekend. At the very least (if you’re British) you’re on the verge of a four day weekend, which is bound to have captured your attention. I speak, of course, of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
You may remember my confession during the Royal Wedding shenanigans last year, of my conflicted emotions at such times. I may be the daughter of two republicans, but yet I’m a massive fan of London when bedecked with bunting. This year, the conflict has been resolved for me as another significant diamond anniversary is taking place this weekend – that of my mother’s birth. I find it deeply ironic (and pleasing) that this republican’s significant birthdays are always celebrated by our monarch declaring a public holiday. It’s exceptionally useful. So I’m off to Belfast on Sunday (after a wedding in Birmingham tomorrow, this weekend is beyond complicated) where red, white and blue bunting means something completely different, and there will be no flotillas. No matter, I have it on great authority that there will be an abundance of cake.
Few marketing tie-ins have been produced to celebrate my mother’s birth, but fortunately, many have been produced to commemorate our monarch acceding the throne. Here’s a collection of some of my favourites, just in time for you to go out and stock up in advance of the festivities…
Firstly, the oh-so-slightly inappropriate tie-ins. I’m sure the Queen is delighted that Marks & Spencer have decided celebrate her jubilee with appropriately themed pants and hosiery. Confession: I actually bought two pairs of the jubilee pants, but they were simply red/blue with white spots – I didn’t buy the ones with little crowns on. However, the crown ones were significantly more tasteful than pants with the Queen’s face on (not from M&S I hasten to add!):
Obviously, M&S has a massive range of jubilee tat – from pants and hosiery, to duvet covers, to cupcakes and, of course, biscuit tins. This is the one I’m lusting after, probably because it doesn’t actually feature much jubilee related art, but lots of lovely London images:
Sadly, this year’s Cath Kidston collection is rather corgi-heavy and pastelly, however, would you like a skirt bearing the image of 100’s of guardsmen? I rather think I would!
You might be wondering how best to celebrate the occasion – is there a local street party? Will you brave the London crowds? Or, will you simply stay home and order pizza? If you go for the latter, fear not, you can celebrate the jubilee with pizza too!
Oh, and you can accompany your pizza with jubilee themed crisps too:
There’s a whole host of goodness out there. If you want to browse more, I recommend this article from The New Statesman and this week’s Style List from Stylist Magazine. Finally, I leave you with the almost obligatory musical Friday moment – a collaboration between two of my favourite singing men (Gary Barlow and Gareth Malone) and the Commonwealth. Not going to lie, it gives me goosebumps every time and I may have nearly cried once. Don’t judge me.
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