The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

I love pagentry, productions, parties, and patriotism and this week-end we had it all.  The celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee is probably the biggest thing to hit the UK in many many years. (even greater than the Royal Wedding)  Even those who are not royalists caught the spirit of it all. (but who wouldn't when you get a 4 day holiday!)

 All of the UK was decorated -- bunting, flags, hats, streamers, signs.  Red, white and blue every where you turned.  The decor was much more resplendant than we saw at Christmas.  It was as if the entire country was ablaze in color. 

The festivities began on Sunday with the sailing of 1000 ships of all sizes and shapes down the Thames River in London.  Unfortunately the weather was soggy and overcast but it did not dampen the spirit of the event.  The royal family stood on the royal yacht for 4 1/2 hours viewing the parade, listening to the bands play and waving to the crowds gathered on the banks. 

We allowed the missionaries to watch the festivities for about an hour that afternoon -- long enough to see the queen and catch the feel for the pagentry of it all.

......and Kate......beautiful even with her eyes closed!

Boats of all sizes, shapes and kinds made their way through the London fog......

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have infused new life into the Royal Family.  Their seemingly unpretentous approach has endeared them to the people and of course her beauty helps!
In this picture they are attending the service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral.

The culminating event took place just outside Buckingham Palace with a concert staged around Queen Victoria's statue.  The Queen and 70,000 of her best friends listened to entertainers like Stevie Wonder, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Elton John, Renee Fleming, Paul McCartney and others sang and danced to music that I can only assume did not fit the Queen's taste, nevertheless, the staging, the lighting and the fireworks were worth the evening. 
The English are not generally quite stoic, not give to much laughter or frivolity, but even Prince Charles endeared himself that night be refering to Her Royal Majesty as Mummy!  Quite cute!

Monday was a day for service and parties.   The missionaries began the day by cleaning the both sides of the street that runs adjacent to the MTC and Temple. 
It was also a day when neighbors and families gathered together for Garden parties.  And the three wards that meet in the our stake center joined in for a jubilee carnival held in the large soccor field across the road from the MTC.  It was a great success with many non members joining in the fun.  The missionaries had a great time mingling and feeling the sense of comraderie that comes at such times.

.......and Elder Grimaldi made a balloon flower just for me!

The festivities continued here through the evening with fish and chips, and festive dress - red, white and blue and all the trimmings.  Don't they look ready to take on the entire United Kingdom!!!

We made flower head bands for the Sister missionaries -- in keeping with the English style of head wear -- and the elders added to the festivities with some mini bowler hats--

.....and in the middle of it all......we celebrated President Walker's birthday with a cake and a heart attack, designed and pasted on our door the night before by the missionaries.  Forty nine love notes....for the man who has everything!

Someone commented that the monarchy is the only thing that sets England apart from the rest of the world.  Without it, it would just be another Island -- and it wouldn't be known for it's balmy weather.

We received a copy of a letter written to:

The Private Secretary to Her Majesty The Queen

Buckingham Palace

London

England

Dear Sir,

     

       On behalf of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we extend our best wishes to Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

       We rejoice with Her Majesty's people throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on the occasion of this historic celebration and commend her for her love of God, her acts of charity, and her sublime example of service and duty.

       May Her Majesty's long life of service be blessed with good health and happiness, and may Heaven's blessings attend her.

(signed by the First Presidency)

Made me feel good because I am one of those members!

As far as I am concerned she is a queen in every sense of the word.....she is lovely, gracious, dignified and loyal to the core.  She is a gentle mother and grandmother and all reports indicate that her greatest sorrows have been associated with the divorces of 3 of her 4 children and her only sister.  It has been amazing to watch her over the past days as she has attended all the ceremonial events, standing, waving, walking without assistance, and looking stunning for a woman of 86.  Prince Philip, who is always at her side, was hospitalized Sunday evening, but she never missed a beat...just carried on without him.   The English tend to be stoic and are not given to much laughter or demonstrative behavior, but there has been a sense of genuine warmth even outward friendliness during this festive time.  Prince Charles endeared himself by referring to her as "Mummy" during the Monday evening concert outside Buckingham Palace.

People tease us by saying that Americans get more excited about the royality than the English, but this week-end that was NOT true.  Everyone was celebrating and for us and for these missionaries it will always be a once in forever experience with great historic significance.  One more reason we love being here!!!!

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!