My Take | For all its faults, the British monarchy still has a future
- It may seem strange for a supporter of democracy and human rights to also believe in the monarchy. But it is impossible to imagine Britain as a republic
God save the Queen. She ain’t no human being. That was the view of the Sex Pistols in their unashamedly subversive song marking the British monarch’s silver jubilee in 1977. The punk anthem became a hit despite being banned from the airwaves at the time.
This weekend, at the grand old age of 96, Queen Elizabeth is celebrating another historic milestone, her platinum jubilee. She has been on the throne for a record 70 years. Many in Hong Kong will be following the festivities with interest. The city, a former British colony, has long had a fascination with the royal family.
Elizabeth is the only reigning British monarch to have visited Hong Kong. She was greeted by flag-waving crowds in 1975. The Post marked the occasion by publishing a colour photograph for the first time, with a front-page story under the headline: “Welcome, Your Majesty”. The queen returned to the city in 1986, on her way back from a trip to China.
Four days of jubilee celebrations are under way in the UK. They include a military parade, a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, a star-studded palace pop concert and a 3km pageant. There will be thousands of street parties today.
Sadly, the queen has missed much of the action. She was absent from the state opening of parliament in May because of “mobility issues”. The monarch made her customary appearance on the palace balcony after the parade last week but felt discomfort and pulled out of the service at St Paul’s.
She has presided over an era of great change, both for her country and the royal family. Their traditional mystique has long gone, amid intense media scrutiny and the demands of modern life. The family’s squabbles and occasional scandals are well known.