The platinum jubilee festivities represent a significant attempt by the British government to promote the aristocracy as a symbol of national solidarity. Perhaps too large, certainly for the Queen, who could not attend all scheduled festivities.
The reasons for alarm are self-evident. The majority of the foundations of the ruling power have experienced a significant loss of reputation. It’s difficult to pinpoint when the corruption began; there’s usually a preceding controversy.
The Fallen Kingdom
From phone hacking to ridiculously biased political coverage, the media’s activities have demolished any sense that Britain’s national media is worried about ethical or even truthful reporting.
Hillsborough, spycops, and other controversies have revealed the policemen as extremely corrupt, unethical, and brutal; the killing of Sarah Everard, as well as February’s stories of Charing Cross policemen making disgusting racist, misogynistic, and homophobic remarks, have further tarnished their reputation. Britain has lost popular trust as these mechanisms of Establishment authority have.
The Ghost from the Past
Brexit and Labour’s massive left resurrection under Jeremy Corbyn were basically anti-Establishment campaigns, anchored in rejection of the way things are, if not agreement on how to solve them.
Both resulted in an intense and acrimonious division. The Tories are too sophisticated to believe that these differences have vanished just because a united ruling-class campaign succeeded in dethroning Corbyn. This government’s deluge of authoritarian laws demonstrates that it anticipates and fears further waves of civic upheaval.
Heading Nowhere
They also cannot promise that Great Britain will remain intact permanently. Sinn Fein, the republican party, is now the biggest party across both Northern and Republic Ireland, and the Scottish have chosen a government committed to independence. The Conservative and Labour parties’ responses to these concerns are to bury their head into the sand and wrap themselves in Union Jacks; it is no replacement for a genuine debate about democratic destiny.
The monarchy is still in place. Even this venerable institution appears to be in jeopardy. The Queen’s image has endured humiliating occurrences such as the revelation in the Panama Papers that she hid millions in offshore funds. But she is still enormously adored. The public is appalled by Prince Andrew’s friendship with child-abuser Jeffrey Epstein and his act of bribing £12 million to a lady who accused him of molesting her as a teenager.
The state has gone all out this week, and millions will celebrate the festivities; it is simple to appreciate a vacation and a festival. However, the Queen is a fragile figure on whom to put expectations of recovering public legitimacy to the British dominant elite — and after she is gone, the governing class’s troubles will only worsen.
