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May 30

Living and Working in the UK: Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

After the worldwide celebrated royal wedding of Kate and William last spring, 2012 is again marked by the presence of monarchy in British society. This weekend the UK, together with people all over the world, will celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee .

Anyone living and working in the UKwill definitely have noticed the upcoming excitement and anticipation of the Diamond Jubilee, not only because of the highly appreciated extra bank holiday on 5 June but because of the surrounding preparations that have been taking place all over the country over the last few weeks. In London, many museums have put together special exhibitions on Queen Elizabeth II and stores have filled their shelves with memorabilia representing the Queen and this momentous occasion.

But why is everyone making such a fuss over this event? How will people living and working in the UK celebrate this special day in royal history?

Flag uk Matt Trommer i1 Living and Working in the UK: Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

National Pride

The United Kingdom is one of the very few countries that still has royal involvement in the government and many Brits are quite proud of the traditions and presence of the monarchy in British society. The Queen of course is a central figure of this pride and the fact that she is celebrating a jubilee of 60 years of reign is a really rare and special milestone of her reign. After Queen Victoria, she is the second longest serving monarch in Britain and the oldest one to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

The Jubilee year is marked by a series of visits and engagements throughout the Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms by the Queen and members of the Royal Family. The celebrations will culminate this weekend, starting with the Queen’s attendance at the Epsom Derby on Saturday 2 June.

On Sunday 3 June the Big Jubilee Lunch is an occasion for people to share lunch with neighbours and friends in the form of a traditional street party or picnic lunch in small or large groups. At high water on Sunday afternoon the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will involve a flotilla on the Thames of up to 1,000 boats from across the UK, Commonwealth and all around the world. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will travel in the Royal Barge, which will form the centrepiece of the flotilla.

The celebrations continue on Monday 4 June with the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons – 2,012 beacons lit by communities throughout the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth.

The Diamond Jubilee weekend will end with a day of celebrations in central London on Tuesday 5 June with a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, two receptions, a lunch at Westminster Hall, a Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace and finally an appearance on the balcony and a flypast by the British armed forces.

Millions of people are going to celebrate the Jubilee in the UK and especially in London, which will definitely impact public transport and be a good test for the upcoming Olympics. The expected overcrowding is one reason why many people see this long four day weekend as an opportunity to get away from the crowds and relax. Others, particularly younger people, may decide to avoid the celebrations out of a disinterest in the Queen and the Royal Family.

Commercial Opportunity

With tourists coming to the UK and local people travelling to other parts of the UK, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee represents a welcome commercial opportunity for British tourism and the jewellery and giftware industries. Special memorabilia in the form of Diamond Jubilee pins, stationery, china, cookies, chocolate, bags and other fashion items can not only be found in souvenir stores and corner shops but in every supermarket. People are also stocking up on food and drinks for their planned street parties which will take place all over the UK in small and large communities so supermarkets will see financial benefits as well.

Anyone living and working in the UK should be aware of how these memorable days of celebration will influence your plans, whether you make use of the extra bank holiday to get away or if you take part in the celebrations. Whatever you do, enjoy the surrounding preparations and discussions about this momentous occasion as it doesn’t happen very often!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2012

Tagged with: British culture • British monarchy • Cross Cultural Training • cultural awareness • Living and Working in the UK • Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Apr 28

Living and Working in the UK: Celebrating the Royal Wedding

Cross Cultural Training, Culture No Comments »

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few months, you will be very aware that the biggest event this weekend is the Royal Wedding of William and Kate. While the international media are putting this news as a priority, how is the event actually impactingliving and working in the UK?

If you are living and working in the UK you will have already noticed that the royal wedding has been in the daily news for several months now. The biggest magazines, newspapers and news channels are devoting lots of their programmes and articles on the events surrounding the wedding. The royal wedding is such an important event that it is has been declared a national holiday in the United Kingdom. But why is everyone making such a fuss over this event? How will people in the UK celebrate this special day in royal history?

iStock 000006666248Medium 425x283 Living and Working in the UK: Celebrating the Royal Wedding

National Pride

England is one of the very few countries that still has royal involvement in the government and many Brits are quite proud of the traditions and presence of the monarchy in British society. Broadcast around the world, the royal wedding will be an excellent occasion for the British to show off their traditional heritage, customs and culture to the rest of the world.

Many Brits are showing enthusiasm for this wedding because William and Kate will be tomorrow’s King and Queen. They represent a fresh and modern perspective for the British monarchy which many people welcome. The fact that Kate doesn’t come from a royal family is another aspect of the wedding that attracts optimism as it is a reminder of the beloved Princess Diana.

Preparations

London is hosting the wedding so the last few weeks have been dedicated to preparations for the event. Hundreds of flags have been hung in the street, the roads have been cleaned, the rehearsals have been getting tighter and the royal route has been getting safer with intense security checks. London’s shops have been customised with British flags and images of the bride and groom. Public institutions such as Transport for London have been promoting the event, inviting people to come to London and celebrate the marriage. The preparations alone are a sign of how far the British will go to ensure that this event runs flawlessly, reflecting their efficiency, organisation and well-kept cultural heritage.

Celebrations

While thousands of Brits plan to attend the event in the streets of London around Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey in particular, millions of others will be watching the events on TV and enjoying the celebration with tea parties, street BBQs and picnics. Stores may be closed in the morning during the wedding events and then open later in the afternoon.

A Commercial Opportunity

The royal wedding also represents a great commercial opportunity for British tourism as well as for Londoners who have rented their flats, rooms or even sofas to tourists from around the world. Gift shops are also taking advantage of the royal wedding and the many tourists it is attracting by selling special merchandise representing the royal couple. From postcards, mugs and banners to more bizarre items like a jelly bean with an image of Kate in the texture, you can find just about anything with the royal wedding theme. Other shops are celebrating the wedding by offering discounts and promotions on their products and services.

Mind the Gap

As millions of people celebrate the royal wedding, many Brits are actually running away from it. Surveys suggest an impressive 60% of the English population will not be watching the celebrations and will instead use the extra day off as an opportunity to get away from the crowds and press. Some have suggested that this disinterest is a result of a generation gap. Many younger people are no longer interested in old English traditions and consider the royal wedding to be pompous, boring and not on the same wavelength as modern British society.

One of the biggest points of contention around the royal wedding is the financial cost this places on British society in these difficult economic times. The Royal Family is an icon of luxury and wealth and the celebration involves an important financial investment that British citizens may not take well. Many feel that the scale of this event is too significant during a time when many are struggling financially.

Whether you are for or against the royal wedding festivities, be aware of the general disruption this will cause to your life when living and working in the UK. No matter what your take, the royal wedding will certainly be a topic of conversation when everyone returns to work after this long weekend, and discussions about the festivities may even replace classic British small talk around the weather so be prepared.

In the meantime, whether you are planning a celebration in honour of this momentous British occasion or an escape to avoid the crowds and festivities, enjoy this extra bank holiday.