Two major things happened in British politics yesterday, one right after the other. Chronologically, the Queen gave her big televised (pre-recorded) speech about the coronavirus lockdown. Immediately afterwards, the papers announced that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been admitted to the hospital for Covid-19. BoJo tested positive for the virus 10 days ago, and he had been self-isolating at home. Sources now say that government ministers and various staffers had been downplaying Johnson’s symptoms publicly to avoid alarming the public. He was there overnight. If he needs to stay longer or if his symptoms persist or get worse, foreign secretary Dominic Raab will “take charge.”
As for the Queen’s speech, we’ve been hearing for a few weeks that she would give a speech about the coronavirus at some point, but I feel like the palace (and perhaps 10 Downing Street, who advised her) waited way too long for it? Much like they waited too long to move the Queen to Windsor Castle – she was still doing events at Buckingham Palace and shaking hands on March 18th! Anyway, she said all the right things and struck the right tone:
It was fine. I didn’t really understand why British peeps were, like, weeping with gratitude and falling all over themselves to declare it the Queen’s most moving speech. I realize I have no room to speak as an American – Trump’s corona briefings are an exercise in buffoonery and lies. But it does feel like the Queen is being applauded for merely showing up and striking the right tone. This was maybe my favorite line:
“I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.”
This is the characterization that British people tell themselves about themselves, much like Americans tell themselves that we are a friendly, generous, warm, and neighborly country. British people tell themselves that their national characteristics are self-discipline, quiet dignity, a good sense of history and good humor. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Queen’s poll numbers go up.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red.
I mean showing up and striking the right tone is kind of the BRF’s thing, isn’t it? I think some of it is that there are still people alive who lived through WW2 (including the queen who did serve), and this gave a reminder of how bad things can get. But people want hope, and hearing someone give them that (even if it didn’t help everyone), it’s going to be at least a bit helpful.
Social media beat her to every single word she had to say. By the time she delivered her message, we’d heard all of this ad nauseam. Don’t go Donald Trump and give some garbage word salad, but there’s gotta be more to offer than this?
I guess the question is – was any of the social media stuff genuine or different? If anything, a lot of the things I’ve seen are just taken from other peoples’ quotes. The only thing I’ve found specifically ‘more’ are a few posts I’ve seen from doctors.
At the end of the day, most of the social media posts main purpose is to go viral. It’s very little to do with good will, and much more to do with getting their 15 minutes. Of course some are more genuine than others, but still – I don’t give a ton of credit to the majority of the social media posts because it’s just a lot of stuff ripped off and coasting off of other peoples’ words.
But not everyone is on social media (my Grandma still can’t open her email no matter how many times she’s been talked through it).
There are lot of old people who are alone right now and scared, most of them in the UK are royalists and it will have been comforting for the Queen to remind them that they’ve come through bad times before.
@ Mara
An idea for your Grandma would be to write out instructions to opening her email in a series of simple steps and cellotape it just beside where her computer/laptop is. That way, she can just sit and follow the written instructions without having to worry about remembering anything.
Thanks Bella – unfortunately we’ve tried this several times as has a very patient local college teacher after she attended a computer class for the elderly but it just doesn’t take. She’s used the phone and the post with no problem for over 80 years so that drains her motivation as well.
Mara, would pictures on the post-it as opposed to word instructions help your grandma? Sometimes seeing it being done is helpful for some (moi) learners.
I think it’s actually the job and she does do that part of it well
It was definitely a nod to her presence during WW2. I don’t know how it is in the UK, but here in the US, the war comparison is very big. The surgeon general compared this coming week to Pearl Harbor. The doctors and nurses are being called warriors. The BRF stepped up big during Ww2, and QE2’s speech reminded its citizens, especially those old enough to lived through it, that the country and its citizens are resilient. I thought it was a good speech.
The War comparison is milked to its last drop in the UK. All we really celebrate here is the Tudors, Victorian sensibilities and the War. I think that’s because so much of British history, especially the Empire was so brutal. I’m surprised how little reference there has been to the actual Bubonic Plague!
But the war references aren’t for those who experienced it the first time round. It’s for the generations that came after who had no idea how hard it was and seem to romanticise that era through rose-tinted glasses. They like to see ‘traditional Britain’ as keeping your stiff upper lip and not complain. Keep calm and carry on.
Boris is obsessed with Churchill and when trying to big up Brexit, he kept on referring to the ‘Blitz spirit’ like it was some magical time, completely ignoring that countless people died, had their lives destroyed, families forced apart and children moved to the countryside so they wouldn’t get bombed!
To my surprise I learn that people in the UK don’t learn about the brutal rule of British empire, instead, they learn about www 1 and 2 and Tudors. Its very shocking to hear. I know everyone in the western world loves Churchill but Churchill was horrible to Indians and he denied food for 1 million people but as usual Winston is white and all is forgiven.
Aria, we don’t all love Churchill in Australia. The feeling of suppressed anger in the cinema when Churchill in the recent movie was justifying his Gallipoli assault was palpable. He’s no hero of mine.
I’m with you completely on this one.
Canadians dislike Mountbatten as well. He used the Canadian soldiers as guinea pigs in the Dieppe raid. So many Canadians died unnecessarily because of his arrogance. And he’s probably hated in India too.
British political heroes tended to treat former colonies like garbage so the commonwealth isn’t going to rah rah being used to help mother Britain.
Just wanted to point out that the British History curriculum for Key Stage 3 (grades 7 to 9) covers the slave trade, Indian independence and migration. Also, the pre teaching of WWI includes the British Empire including the grab for Africa. So, I it’s not correct to say the British people aren’t taught about the empire and all its cruelties. Sorry, I don’t remember who made this comment but as a history teacher, I couldn’t resist the correction.
“I didn’t really understand why British peeps were, like, weeping with gratitude and falling all over themselves to declare it the Queen’s most moving speech”
It’s almost impossible to understand unless you were born in the U.K. or lived there for a substantial amount of time. Truth is, we are pretty much brain washed from birth. Slowly, slowly, quietly, quietly. We are trained to look up to and revere her Majesty in almost every circumstance. To be deeply grateful for the “life of sacrifice” and “service” she has willingly offered the nation. Even our national anthem, “God save the Queen” is primarily about *her*.
I’m a fairly cynical operator, haven’t lived in the UK for years now, and still as salty as hell for the callous treatment she and her cronies meted out to Harry & Meghan…..yet, this dry little speech still brought a little tear to my eyes.
It really is nothing short of brain washing.
@Bella Dupont, while I understand your point about the Queen being revered for her service, etc etc. you’re really generalising quite a lot in stating we are all brain washed. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m against the monarchy and most of the people I know are the same. I’m also a person of colour, so maybe it’s the type of background I’m from.
@ Sanaa
I am also a person of colour and I didn’t quite say “all”. Still, almost 70% of the country are still monarchists, with only about 20% being republican, even in this day and age. I’d say they’ve done a brilliant job at brain-washing the public to get (and keep) those sorts of numbers, even today, considering the endless lists of scandals and transgressions they continue to perpetuate.
Which other family do know that enjoys this level of support for almost no reason? Their methods are insidious and that’s why certain people (like you, maybe?🙃) can’t/refuse to see it.
@bella, lol you could accept that not everyone thinks in the same way as you do without implying that I don’t know my own mind.
@ Sanaa
You can maybe also remember that point the next time you see me make this argument and not keep stalking me on it. Chuurs. 😘👍
I live in England (though I’m Canadian) and I find her speeches entirely underwhelming. My boyfriend explains to me that the motive is to keep calm and maintain that stiff upper lip, and that’s great, but these speeches are basically generic and she’s just reading off a script. I don’t find it moving at all and I don’t see why this speech would make people feel more supported. She did hit the right marks here, but again, we’re seeing multiple iterations of these same words on social media by the boat load. Why not do something tangible? Take those billions and help your suffering nation. Lay off on reaping tax payer funded royal privileges. But don’t just tell us we will get through this – of course we will, there’s literally no other choice.
Totally agree. She had all the charisma and passion of a potato. I keep saying if Meghan and Harry were still in the UK they would have had a COVID-19 relief charity up and running in a week with a slick PR campaign, celebrities involved, etc. etc. Nobody needs a hashed-over statement read off a teleprompter in a monotone, expressionless manner. She sounded like a preachy schoolmarm telling her students how good they’ve been. It’s money the country needs, not a pat on the head by a billionaire.
I’m British and I like the Queen. She’s not there to gush or put on a showy display fo affection for her subjects, or be the best orator. Whilst I would say that contrary to the British stereotype of being reserved, constrained etc etc, there are Brits who are certainly more effusive, warm and expressive than she is, but she just isn’t like that. But I do know for as long as we do have Royal Family, she remains the most hard-working and persevering. There’s nothing attention-seeking or self-pitying about her and I like that. She just gets on and does the job and a lot of her work and private visits actually goes unreported. Kate will never fill her shoes because she doesn’t have the same strength of character or genuine interest in her engagements. She was only ever in it to raise her social status. On the other hand, the continuous Meghan comparisons don’t help here because Meghan is another rich and privileged individual who seems to love the sound of her own voce and if she had set up a charity, great, but we would have got a whole lot of her preaching also. I’ve always found her charity gigs pre and post Royal to have a very self-promotional aspect to them. She also frequently steals quotes and phrases from others without owning this and it turns her speeches into the most cliched speeches ever.
oh gosh ! a slick PR campaign with celebrities is really the last thing anyone needs right now.
If anything, we have seen how utterly vapid and useless entertainers are.
I think celebrity worship is more of an american thing, but who knows maybe H&M could launch this slick PR campaign in the US given how badly hit it is ?
She is very far from granny living in assissted home, trying to scrimp some cash from her Old Age Pension to pay for groceries. All I see is Grandmother-In-Law from hell, controlling, cheap, snobby, believes in her own hype making multi billions off the back of her people, nothing warm about it. I noticed her interior is very different since christmas, she spent money to rip out walls and redesign her castle while the whole world turns to shit.
@ Pepper
Love your comment! Never, ever pass up the chance for a good little dig at Meghan, no matter the scenario. And please keep up the high levels of bitterness, it’s *exactly* what the world needs right now in these difficult times. 👍👍😘😘
At least celebrities and entertainers have actually donated money to help the Covid crisis. Rihanna donated ventilators and masks both in New York and Barbados, Dolly Parton donated money for Covid research. What have the royals done? Sure celebrity worship is an American thing, but at least those celebrities earned their way to where they are. The royal worship is a whole other thing though, what have the royals done? The snark some royal watchers have for celebrities while celebrating the royal family for doing nothing in this crisis is bizzare.
@blue36
Im not a monarchist but the queen is a 93 year old woman who is still working. I respect that.
How many celebrities do the same at that age?
Pepper, has tumblr broken today? Is that why you’re here now?
The Queen is not the hardest working royal. All of her behind-the-scenes meetings are recorded in the CC. Even her showing up for Church is sometimes recorded. You appear to know little about monarchy or how it works. Kate is not being trained for the Queen’s role, she’s being trained for Philip’s or Camilla’s. She isn’t going to attempt to fill the Queen’s bespoke, thousands of pounds per pair, broken in by someone else shoes.
Kate has never earned her own money, always lived off Uncle Gary. Spent a decade doing nothing but pandering to a ManChild, letting him cheat, and trying to wear him down enough to marry her. She has accomplished next to nothing in nearly a decade as a royal.
Meghan, whom you clearly dislike? Earned all of her millions herself. I understand that sticks in your craw. She has accomplished so much in charity work in merely two years, with everyone involved saying how humble she is.
Depends on how you define work? Her visiting charities – okay sure great if you want to define that as work and she can only afford doing this “work” because her life is funded by the taxpayer, other people can’t do that. So what if some older actors decided they don’t want to work anymore? Working in the entertainment industry isn’t easy and retiring isn’t a sin, it gives a chance for the younger generation to enter the workforce. Also once actors start aging, the demand goes away. The queen is the queen because she was born to the right people, entertainers have to work tirelessly to get to where they are. My criticism isn’t towards the queen but towards royal watchers who praise this woman to the heavens for giving a speech, while calling entertainers non-classy and all other derogatory names when they’ve done arguably more during this crisis (by actually donating PPE and money) rather than just giving a speech. If that speech helped people great, but trashing entertainers who’ve actually provided necessary relief is what irks me.
It is ridiculous that some people can’t manage their own personal thoughts and emotions about the Sussexes, especially Meghan, enough to stay on topic or at least try to avoid coming off as petty and spiteful. And, @Pepper, your rant against the Duchess of Sussex was just extra, like in extra bitter.
I get Pepper’s comment. The way I see it, the queen has grit, resolve and an air of having answered the call to duty countless times. I wonder what it would feel like to be such a figure; the lack of privacy and freedom would seem to preclude a sense of self.
Kate certainly doesn’t give off that degree of selflessness, and — in my opinion — neither does Megan. I also find the latter’s speeches a bit too twee, but it doesn’t mean I have anything against her. She’s a wonderful calligrapher.
@Mrs.Bump – Alan Alda, Donald Sutherland, Jack Nicholson, Burt Reynolds, Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood….they WORK. She has dozens of servants and advisers, and does the occasional ribbon-cutting/tea party/ Remembrance Day/birthday stuff but I’d hardly call it ‘working’. Also, many of these OLD actors donate a ton of money. She’s one of the richest women in the world – she should put her money where her mouth is and support the people who have supported her all her luxurious life.
Furthermore, a slick PR campaign makes a difference and by slick I mean professional, to the point, well written and narrated, something that moves people to action, not some namby-pamby words of “buck up” and “you should be proud of yourselves” when the f*cking prime minister lies in intensive care fighting for his life.
@Pepper: Meghan has proven again and again she can take the pulse of the people and situation quickly and successfully. She is wonderfully self-reliant, hard working, philanthropic and was a great asset to a moribund royal family.
The royal family are celebrities, period. That is the sole reason for their existence. And unlike other types of celebrities who have other jobs (athletes, actors, singers), the royals do not have “other jobs.” Being royal (being a “celebrity”) is their whole existence. It’s bizarre to me that people use the word “celebrity” in a pejorative sense when talking about entertainers who earned their profession, but not when talking about the royal family who have “accomplished” absolutely nothing.
@pepper Can we stop using the word subjects, I am nobody’s subject thank you very much, also there are a lot of more hardworking people in the world than the bloody queen who gets to live a life of extreme luxury and is ferried around in very expensive cars to get to and from ‘work’.
People need to stop this sycophantic nonsense!
@notsugarhere Tumblr?!! Don’t really know what that is but you clearly spend too much time on different social media outlets spreading your expert Royal knowledge. I do have a Facebook and LinkedIn account though, do those count for the point you’re trying to make? The point is Kate is being trained as Queen Consort. Given her supposedly educated and ordinary background it would not be unreasonable to expect her to step up and surpass the ordinary obligations of her role. She could choose to really perform, but she doesn’t. That’s why I pointed out her social climbing attributes, but I suppose you need a detailed and literal synopsis. Yawn, yes I know all about Uncle G etc etc, can read all about that in the DM.
Gosh, the bitterness I detect from the same people going on about bitterness before launching into a diatribe about Kate…slightly ironic. Umm, yes, there really are more important things to worry about in the world, ever, including the different opinion of somebody else.
Kate, her laziness, lack of empathy and shallowness speak for themselves. Meghan, she seems to be a naturally warm person but her virtue-signaling and plagiarised speeches are too contrived for me. The Queen – I like and respect her understated resilience. Speaks volumes for me. But hey, ho, that’s just my opinion.
@ Mrs. Krabapple……………totally agree. The Royals are celebrity and they don’t even do that all that well.
So over these people. UK get rid of them! I’d love to see that in my lifetime.
@jaded
Not all of us are moved by the slick ubiquitous insta inspiration messages you seem to be partial to.
I happen to think they are vapid, if that’s where you draw your strength from, good for you.
However it is worthwhile to remember that we don’t all have the same sensibilities and what would work for Americans/Canadians may not necessarily resonate in the Uk. Trust that most people are capable of understanding the enormity of the situation especially with their PM in the ICU, without the need for a celebrity to underline the obvious.
There is no one size fits all emotional response and your insistence that a slick pr campaign would resolve everything is a little tone deaf. 23 million brits tuned it to listen to their Queen, that should be enough to tell you something were you open minded enough
Why should the UK (my home) or any other country have to rely on any bloody celebrity starting a charity or donating money for PPE. Sod that. I want them to pay more tax! Pandemic response shouldn’t be reliant on sodding philanthropy. Instead of publicly announcing how much they’ve donated to whatever annual disaster we’re going through, why don’t these beneficent celebrities campaign to be able to pay a higher rate of tax? What the hell is wrong with you all?
Queenie made a speech and told us to keep calm and carry on. I’ll take it over most of the other bullsh1t we’re fed everyday. I’m no fan of the Royal Family but I’ll take QEII as my head of state right now. The UK is in enough trouble with Boris and his cabinet of talentless, fascistic non-entities without having a Trump/Putin clone sitting atop the crap-heap.
Oh, and by the way Burt Reynolds died in 2018.
I loved her speech. No snark, no celebitchiness from me.
It was a true and great Queen’s Speech.
Same, which is surprising because while I admire her service to her country, I don’t especially like her. I thought it was a great speech, and since I hail from the land of Trump, I’d love to hear anything half as calm and encouraging. I also loved the quote in the excerpt above, and loved the callback to her very first speech. I still think she’s an uncaring and out of touch mother/grandmother, but she did her role well here. I also can’t begrudge her timing…to even give this speech at all is unusual.
I agree Heather. The Queen was Queening at her very best. I see a lot of her new Communications Director —— Sara Latham —— in this broadcast. The speech was well staged, longer than usual, covered a great deal of ground, made terrific comparisons between standing strong then and now, and the various footage cut in was well chosen. I’ve no complaints. Also, she looks more rested than she has in quite some time. Her hands are obviously tanned. She’s getting some quality outdoor time. I do admire the Queens strong work ethic. She is the energizer bunny personified, but at 93, I’m sure this forced slowdown has been extremely beneficial to her health. As to Boris Johnson, I wish him well —- I pray for ALL who are afflicted.
Yes, the Queen does have a wonderful work ethic.
Makes me wonder if how PP’s doing? If he brought his “friend” with him, and they’re living in a different wing of the castle? Or are they together? We haven’t heard a word about him. Considering his age, I hope they’re taking every precaution with who goes anywhere near him or whatever he comes into contact with.
High time she made some sort of statement.
I thought it was fine. It was basically what I expected her to say and it was the kind of speech she should have done a week or two ago. I don’t understand why people are convinced this speech marked her as the greatest British monarch of all time or whatever, but it was fine.
It was fine, no charisma, no actual caring in any sense of the word. She did what she was ordered to do, because once again she and her advisors were behind the eight ball.
All talk and no action.
I agree. Being as she is one of the richest women in the world, sitting in her castle, dripping in priceless jewels – maybe she could actually donate some of her wealth to the underfunded hospitals, soup kitchens, women’s shelters etc in her country. She gives a speech and everyone thinks that’s enough?
Is it more appropriate for her to donate quietly or announce said donations?
She should announce her donations and encourage other rich undertaxed people do follow her.
This speech was very meh to me, but my Grandma (who is of the Queen’s generation and is scared, alone and having mild symptoms right now) loved it and found it comforting.
I’ve said it time and again but the UK is a diverse country for some people this will mean nothing and for others it will mean a lot.
They were always going to wheel her out when the public needed a good head-mistressing. The speech was ok and she looked reassuringly well, but I don’t think it has that much impact nowadays. I found the pictures of the Nightingale hospitals far more powerful than her pleading for people to stay inside.
As usual slow to catch up and ho-hum, the Queen. Just reminds me the monarchy seems useless and expensive. jmo
I only hope and pray William and Kate don’t go on TV for a speech.
job well done to the Queen& her speech writers. The plebs were lapping it up& think fact that Boris Johnson remains ill& is now in hospital means that it resonated for Brits apparently feeling an absence of leadership- saw many republicans on SM saying this is why it’s good to have a monarchy.
The Queen, and the BRF for all their faults have been a consistent feature and pillar for British life. They impact our daily life (our currency, stamps, laws) weather we know it or not. I don’t understand the criticism about timing. It is well documented that the govt anticipated that things would get worst and so there was no point in the queen speaking a few weeks ago. If it comforted one person, isn’t that enough?
That’s quite a few million to comfort one person… just sayin.
Why do the royal ‘family’ never donate, never open the grounds of one of their lavish homes to use as a hospital? Why are Edward/Sophie/she of the 5 question survey/ and he of the clenched jaw and wandering willy not doing volunteer work like for instance mow’s or similar?
Service to the people? Nope. They are All holed up on their vast estates. All smoke and mirrors. Absolute con job.
Apparently 23 million Brits watched it. Much higher number than what social media posts reach, and even higher thanviewer numbers of most royal weddings. If she comforted even a tenth of the viewers, I think she did well.
after her speech, I saw many British people in the park and beach. It seems they are not listening to the queen nor the NHS guidelines. Some people I saw go out daily during this time.
She is one of the last monarchs to say or do anything about this crisis. How is that admirable?
Exactly. Useless, all of them.
im not a royalist by any means though i am from a CW country.
it’s not so much what she said that mattered, but her presence which reminded the Brits that they have been through difficult times before and that they will emerge from this.
This is probably the only time, that i’ve understood the “continuity” angle of the monarchy. She is an actual living breathing reminder that “this too shall pass”.
it was great speech especially the “we will meet again” which was a WW2 song
I found the speech fairly meh and, as others have said above, just included all the standard, expected lines. That is, except for the “we will meet again” line. That was an excellent throwback to the sense of getting through the war and emerging out the other side together, much like the theme of the song it references. Good job, speechwriter.
To be fair who wrote the speech doesn’t really matter.
The “we will meet again” line uttered by Boris, Charles, william, kate , Harry or Meghan would have been meaningless.
It is because of who she is, what she represents and what she has lived through that those words carry such poignancy. She carries the memory of her nation in a way no politician can.
Well said, MrsBump!
Given that the sh!t is about to hit the fan, esp as BoJo has been hospitalised, she should have given this sooner but then again no one really thought that parts of the populace would continue to be stupid and ignore gov advice to stay indoors. We haven’t reached our apex yet and I’ve read reports that its predicted to hit the UK this week – its predicted that the number of deaths will continue to rise with the number of infections go down but how are they going to accurately measure that if there is still no wide spread testing.
I’m a Brit here in the UK and I’m in the ‘this is her job’ camp. She did her job, that’s it. Where doing her job helped people feel better, however momentarily, I’m pleased. Personally I continued to be pro-queen for a long time after other members of the royal family started working hard to undermine its value to the country (looking at you Cambridges) but her behaviour more recently has horrified me and I don’t need anything for her anymore.
*from
“This is the characterization that British people tell themselves about themselves, much like Americans tell themselves that we are a friendly, generous, warm, and neighborly country. British people tell themselves that their national characteristics are self-discipline, quiet dignity, a good sense of history and good humor. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Queen’s poll numbers go up.”
Spot on. I would add to the American list that they are the freest nation on earth, the only country where you can make your dreams come true, or really anything that touches on American exceptionalism rhetoric, which even Obama spouted.
Canada’s continues to be: we’re not racist.
One of the things that I love about Americans is how the celebrate success and those who work hard to achieve it. We Brits tend to tear successful people down and I hate that about us as a people.
White Americans historically burned black successful businesses to the ground or built highways to destroy successful black communities up to the 20th C.
There is a huge difference……..in the US, success is celebrated, admired, protected and sometimes even revered, envied but not always in a negative way. There is no other country in the world, have people be able to create as much wealth as they have in the US; yes it can be uncontrolled but it is encouraged. We also have a lot of poverty and a great unequal system but great success here is admired!!!
What I have seen with Meghan is how success is ‘celebrated’ in the UK; it is negatively envied, smeared, looked down upon. It is just not Meghan by the way, same problem with artists, soccer players, etc……. or is it just related to the success of POC?
We have our faults in the US, after all, I still believe orange man was elected because of racism, but we talk about it. We have racist nuts, we have idiots (plenty of those), etc…. In the UK, being called a racist is actually worse than being racists……. amazing really!!!!
We have plenty of faults in the US, most of which have been swept under a carpet. I really don’t think it’s possible these days to accumulate wealth if you don’t have some degree of privilege. Go back 50 years and it was all possible. If you look into the background of many Americans— mine included— you would see people living in comfort whose grandparents and great-grandparents were dirt poor. There were many immigrant successs stories in the 20th century. Most immigrants were poor and uneducated but determined that their children would have a better life and they absolutely did.
meant to write a terrible* unequal system
I agree with the ‘freest nation on earth, place where dreams come true’ narrative. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that we are friendly, warm and generous. I think Mediterranean people when I think warm and generous. I lived in Spain for a few years in the 1980s, and some other stereotypes mentioned by Spanish friends were that Americans were carefree and wealthy. I do think the UK has a rep for being steadfast. Ages ago in a history class we had a person who lived through the Blitz speak to us. It left quite an impression on a teenage me.
I think the “friendliest people on earth” is especially a midwestern thing, not an all of America thing. I know that here in the Midwest people seem to think they’re much friendlier and warmer and welcoming than people on the East coast or big cities. Midwesterners think of themselves as neighborly, they wave and say hi when they’re driving their car around the neighborhood and see someone walking along the sidewalk, even if they don’t actually know the person walking. Being extra polite, holding doors, saying please and thank you and “if it’s not too much trouble and you really don’t mind…” Bringing cookies to the new neighbors, stopping to chat and pet each other’s dogs in the park, even if you don’t know the person. I think it’s this whole Protestant, Christian thing we have going on in the Midwest. Like we’re all just small town people at heart with a “let’s pull together” kind of attitude that maybe comes from thinking of our great grandparents and not too distant relatives out on the wagon train, relying on each other, coming to settle the Midwest with their bibles and apple pies. It’s not necessarily true, of course, and it doesn’t extend to people outside of your own race or class or even your own little suburban neighborhood, but it’s one of the things we tell ourselves: we’re super nice!
But I feel like this sort of stereotype about Americans does extend out into the world. Don’t people think Americans are so quick to introduce themselves, smile and say hi, go in for the hug, and just generally try to start conversations and act overly familiar/friendly with people they’ve just met?
@Godwina love, love, love your comment. Fe
As a Canadian I am sorry but the British and Americans have us beat on the racism scale by allowing nazis to hold parades and the British tabloids harassing a young woman until she and her family left the country and took some Crown Jewels. There is no denying we have racism in Canada but we also have a sane leader who provides us with daily briefings and has opened up the coffers there has been mistakes made but compared to Boris and the big orange twit of America ..he’s light years ahead in terms of calm leadership..our PM was in self isolation with his kids and still providing us with morning briefings complete with social distancing. So sure call us racist..but I’d rather deal with a Canadian racist at least we know where they live and the day is coming that they will look out the window and we are going to wave at them and apologize for not calling ahead.
Pardon me but I’m slipping out for a moment…I have a bit of a cough.
@Rosalee I’m with you
Yup, that is the lies people tell themselves.
Americans really tell themselves that they are friendly, warm and neighborly?
i have to tell you that the repeated wars waged on so many countries have left quite a different impression of the US on the rest of the world.
Even now, many EU governments have spoken out against the US’s aggressive tactics to secure medical supplies without care or concern for anyone else.
Exactly.
Americans are known in Canada as the loudest and most arrogant ones in the room. President orange idiot is the culmination of the Ugly American image.
It’s Canadians who are nice, sometimes too nice.
Germany has called this out as piracy. The Trump admin. has refused to send our (Canadian) order from 3M for medical equipment/masks, *even though* 3M uses our resources to produce same, from British Columbia. At least 3M has called him out on his sh*t, citing it as a Humanitarian issue. But so far, they’re not allowing it over the border, and our government has to, once again, try to placate the orange toddler to receive this equipment. They have also intercepted a shipping order we made overseas. It’s disgusting, and is there any wonder Allies are friggin’ fed up with him.
I worked in the hospitality industry for years, and I met a lot of Americans and seriously, with one exception they were all decent kind people. I’ve worked in hotels, restaurants, bars, holiday resorts, etc. with a high tourism turnover. I’ve met a lot on this site too and the overwhelming majority are truly wonderful and I’m glad I know them.
Believe me, nobody hates Trump as much as the American people do. It is OUR country, OUR people, and OUR reputation that Trump has sh!t on.
I hate to break it to you, but Americans were waging unnecessary wars well before Trump. You just had a better PR.
I think the Canadian motto is more : at least we’re not American.
Lol
Ok fine. Now go eff off back to your palaces and racist courtiers, queenie.
I’ve stopped watching the US briefings because they make me so angry. If we had a leader that just said the right words in a calm and steady tone, at this point is probably cry too
This, x 100!
Watch Cuomo’s daily briefing. There is leadership, empathy/compassion, and transparency. I’ve not agreed with a lot he’s done as governor prior to this, but he has really stepped up to the plate here.
Also, I love when tells stories about his family, or he has his brother Chris on… they love to bust each other’s b@lls, and gives everyone a much needed release of laughter.
Our Gov. here in California, Gavin Newsom also has stellar briefings, as does our Mayor, Eric Garcetti. (Garcetti was interviewed on last Friday’s Bill Mahr show…look it up online. Max Brooks (Mel’s son) was also on; I had NO IDEA this man was SO SMART! It was great).
as @(TheOG) jan90067 recommended, if you want to watch a daily briefing, you can watch Governor Cuomo’s ones. I am from NY so there is always someone who watches it; I have watched a couple and you can tell the difference between Governor Cuomo and the orange man
My mother in law has started watching Canada’s daily briefings with Trudeau instead of Trump’s. I know a lot of people who only watch their governor’s briefings now, or Cuomo’s briefings, and who have completely stopped tuning in to watch the President of the United States, “leader of the free world,” “voice of all democracy,” “representative of the entire Western world.” He is such a fumbling, unethical, sociopathic, narcissistic, disgraceful idiot, spouting nonsense that has to be immediately corrected and fact checked in real time as he’s still speaking, who seems to be on a mission to instill only fear, doubt, and hatred in anyone who has the misfortune of hearing him speak. I don’t understand (but I do, of course) how he can be SO BAD at this!? And why do his “people” let him keep talking? The stock market kept literally crashing in real time whenever he spoke. You would think THAT would motivate his enablers into either keeping him quiet or forcing him to stay on script, since we know they don’t care about the fact that people come away from his speeches feeling baffled and disheartened every day.
Shut up you old biddy. Justice for Meghan!
The fact that it was only her 4th exceptional speech in her entire reign was very telling about how useless this organization seems to be (in my opinion). And it was really boring.
To certain people I imagine this was very comforting. It’s a nice speech. But boy does it make me realize the royal family is really is trouble going forward. Who else could have delivered this speech? Charles? He could do a passable job, but he doesn’t have quite the same comfort-factor for people. Never has. William? Too cold. Kate? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I’m 100% anti-monarchy but I really must admit, the Queen is likely irreplaceable.
Charles is better at giving speeches than both his mother and Willileaks. I quite like the speech he gave opening the COVID-19 specialist hospital – he’s the only one that gives a bit of human aspect to his speeches.
This is why come next year the BRF will be BEGGING the Sussex’s to come back – the question is will Chuck reign in Cain and Unable in order to allow that to happen?!?
Even if they beg them to come back, they best not! I have been too emotionally invested in the Sussexes’ great escape for them to turn back around!
I hope she is irreplaceable. No more kings and queens for me!
If ole Queenie gave a rat’s ass about “her people” she could: donate some of her millions, set up temporary hospitals in her many empty palaces, forfeit rent for a few months for her tenants.. etc etc. But, no..empty speech and platitudes..
Open the huge BP kitchens to help feel NHS workers.
so many tangible things she/the BRF could be doing to actually help…such a waste of resources these people are
That is NEVER going to happen!
The media has started going after football (soccer) players for not giving away enough money. Funny how none of the media ever asks that of the Royal families or the tax-dodging billionaires who own the newspapers…?
This is what I don’t get. Why don’t these royals actually DO something? This woman’s a billionaire . I can’t believe she got on live tv, spouted banal platitudes, and didn’t end with a donation to help in the fight. Like, seriously? And people are ok with this?
I’m completely fascinated by this entire institution. The speech was 100% what we all knew was coming from her (I’m German and even I can anticipate her moves by now) and as such, it was fine. What I find really interesting is that by now, Liz, Chuck, and Will have all … said words. I don’t know if you can call an IG post a speech. The ONLY one who sounds remotely human and empathetic and who I believe means what he says, is Charles. He might not. But then that’s good acting. Kinda makes me sad he won’t get that many decades as King. Because William will be awful and disappointing. Stoic and bland is okay for someone Liz’ age. Not for him.
And now I’m wondering how we, Germans, view ourselves. I don’t think we have a clear image of ourselves as a people or nation. Possibly … a little dry but dependable? I think that’s what we think others see us as.
Canadian here, who has visited Germany several times (to date myself, the first time stood and watched the Wall from the eastern side… next time I returned I cried driving over where it used to stand. But I digress). We think you are industrious, organized, disciplined and methodical. People who get the job done without someone needing to preen and strut and gasp for accolades like some we could name… Also clean and tidy and know how to run trains well:-) oh and your restaurants really should be better regarded universally. My teen boy has been asking every year when an we can come back for a visit – sadly not this year… and just last night was asking why we can’t move there / why his grandpa didn’t apply for refugee status there instead of Canada.
Oh and not dry at all. The Germans we know / are friends with are wonderful, warm, and have a great sense of humour.
That is so nice to hear, honestly. We have a complicated relationship with outselves. There’s usually a huge difference between how people perceive us from afar and how they perceive us once they’ve been here. Also how we percieve ourselves. Overall I love my country and honestly, right now would not want to be anywhere else. When this is all over I’ll go back to being highly critical. I think that’s the only way to go if you love your home country.
We DO have great restaurants.
I’m dying to travel through Canada. My bff and her husband did a three-week roadtrip and loved it so much.
I’m not interested in her speech; just want to know what pictures she had on her desk, seeing as the palace knows how to pass hidden messages with those. So, which people made the cut this time?
No pictures, just a plant.
Interesting. She doesn’t have family photos at Windsor or someone’s cutting the Cambs down to size or the palace didn’t want to distract from her message? Hmmm…
BUBS: Yes! Where are all the headlines how the Queen has SNUBBED the Cambridges?
American here, I was underwhelmed. An obviously scripted speech prepared by someone else… could have been meaningful, but her delivery was so wooden, no warmth or emotion to her voice or expression.
Exactly. Plop a gray wig on a teleprompter, glue a brooch to the side, and you’d get the same thing by reading it yourself.
Not ONE OUNCE of real compassion from her. Ice water in her veins. Like her character said on “The Crown”: “I must be missing an empathy chip…” This is the same woman that had to be dragged a week late to Aberfan, to speak to her grieving “subjects” about Diana’s death (and she only did that because people were calling for her head on a pike! (figuratively)).
Meh. She did fine, but she’s not someone I would ever look to for inspiration or moral guidance.
True.
As someone mentioned above, the UK is very diverse. I’m very anti-monarchy so I wouldn’t look to the Queen for any kind of comfort, nor would most of my friends. But I do know people who would and for those people, I feel she did her job.
Re: what people tell themselves about their national characteristics, that was interesting! I believe us Brits tell ourselves that we just get on with it, with humour and resilience. And I believe Americans think they have the strongest work ethic, right? I’d be interested to know some from other countries, if my fellow international commentators would indulge me…
Danes are very proud of our welfare system. Note “welfare/velfærd” isn’t a negative word in Denmark – it means living well and the strongest taking care of the weakest. There’s a saying that roughly translates as “the widest shoulders carry a heavier load”. We do have a system that provides a good deal of social security (free health care, education, strong unions, etc.). However, we aren’t as tolerant and inclusive that we like to think we are – there’s a (not so hidden) undercurrent of racism, especially towards muslims but also an older and more casual racism towards Greenlanders – and we haven’t dealt at all with our colonial past (especially regarding Greenland). We also have a tendency to feel morally superior.
Denmark suffers from a curious combination of a superiority complex hidden within an inferiority complex. It goes back to the mid 19th century where the enormously influential priest Grundtvig compared the Danes to the Israelites (the Chosen people). His cultural influence cannot be underestimated – he wrote many of the hymns we still sing today and his ideas were central to the Folk High School-movement (it is a form of adult education aimed at the non-privileged classes). At the same time, Denmark suffered major military and political defeats in an international context. Most significantly the defeat to Prussia in 1864 where the nation lost a third of its territory. This left a deep wound, on top of the wound from the Napoleonic Wars where Copenhagen was bombed by the British, Denmark lost its fleet (our pride) and was forced to secede Norway to Sweden. The 19th century saw a nation that grew outwardly smaller and then tried to grow inwardly bigger. In the 1990s we had a much more activist foreign policy with an active involvement in UN peace keeping efforts, foreign aid, etc. So there’s another more current source of the idea of being morally superior.
ArtHistorian, I wish I had the ability to upvote your posts.
I couldn’t bring myself to watch it. “Fellow-feeling” like allowing others to be abused and harassed?? Like throwing others under the bus to save one’s self??
I thought it was alright, she said everything she needed to say. I wasn’t ‘wowed’ by it, and there wern’t any surprises, not that I expected there to be. It was exactly what you would expect from her. The one thing I get from the queen is that she is a women who has been through it all and always comes out the other end. She has survived so many crises and knows that it always comes to an end, eventually. So I get why people feel reassurance and comfort from her, it’s because she has always been as presence in their lives.
That’s the difference between her and William, if William makes a speech it’s entirely for is own PR, where as the queens goal here was to reassure the ‘people’.
She’s very good at giving nothing.
It’s quite a talent!
A lot of the coverage in the British media tells me that the public at large there are way too wrapped up psychologically with The Queen – all their hopes and fears are pinned to her. When she passes, it will be devastation to the nation. If they could hook her up to a robot to be around forever, they probably would.
Yeah, seeing the breathless, fawning commentary from Brits on social media alone had me rolling my eyes. All it takes is the bare (belated) minimum and she’s praised like she’s a precious deity.
Only few I guess because I follow many millenials pet owner who are white British and they dont seem to care and they are going to park daily with their pets.
Don’t believe the British media! They have been hyping this for days before it was televised and today you would have thought that she had single-handedly found the vaccine! I wonder if she threw a hissy fit that Boris’ hospitalisation stole her thunder similarly as to all the Meghan steals everyone else’s spotlight.
I was surprised at how much it was trending on social media last night – did some serious eye rolling. But remember people are also fickle. The top 5 topics trending on UK twitter right now are:
1) “Karen”
2) Tommy Lee
3) Jack Wilshire
4) Ezra Miller
5) John Krasinki
4/5 are celebrities.
Once this is over, what most people in the UK will remember about this period is “herd immunity”, how special our NHS is, the death toll, all those financially really hard hit, and the loved ones who passed.
I doubt the Queen’s speech is going to really have a lasting effect on anyone. I think people are sore, the news is crap and a nice speech from the Queen was a little bit of optimism.
Do I think we will seriously consider how much money is given to the royals and their shady dealings? No, we’re too lazy and the class system is too ingrained for any sort of actual change.
I do think people will be sad when she passes, but more for what she represents. She represents a long era and is a constant. I don’t think either Charles or William will have as much respect as the Queen holds. The only person in my opinion that holds a similar level of respect as the Queen is Princess Anne.
Lol, not sure about robots, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they harvest the organs of teenage peasants to stay alive. These people live looooooong!
Anne of the extra marital affairs? Anne letting her adult kids live rent-free in her taxpayer funded townhouse in London? Anne letting her adult kids live rent-free on her taxpayer-secured estate? Anne of the repeated, blundering, offensive, sometimes racist comments like her father? Anne of the repeated dog attacks, taken to court because her dogs have attacked children and other dogs while she stood back and did nothing?
Always amazed at people who think Anne is something special.
Yup – that’s her! I’m amazed at what an easy treatment she gets. To be honest I think it’s cos she’s not that pretty, so people aren’t that interested in her in the same way as they are with Diana or Meghan.
Same for her daughter Zara, who’s husband got caught on camera kissing another woman while Zara was pregnant, who’s received millions from dodgy foreign millionaires and has been banned for 6 months for driving over the speed limit.
OMG! I had no idea about the dogs!
I think her long reign has been a blessing and a curse. She represents a sense of stability due to her longevity, but you will have to be 90+ years old to remember a life before her. But she built that image of stability over decades and wasn’t just handed over to her. I imagin during her early years she was out of her depth being so young around so many older educated men who probably didn’t really take her seriously. Charles doesn’t have the same luxury of time to build that same reputation and neither will William, meaning the symbolism of our future monarchs won’t wield as much respect as she does.
Just a question…do you really need royalty to give this speech? A prime minister or voted figurehead can’t do it? This speech is important in these times yes but I still don’t see the need for royalty to deliver it. I do think this royal (Queen E) doing it did give comfort to the older generation, but if it were another royal I don’t think it matters anymore.
Well the Royals had to do it, since it hasn’t gone unnoticed at how little they’ve done (apart from the fake stories about William WANTING to be a pilot again). If they did nothing, it would just highlight how redundant they are. I wouldn’t be surprised if people had started thinking that she may be ill, I think the courtiers wanted her to be seen to dispell any rumours.
I do think that the Queen does care about duty, but duty for her is being stoic and giving a televised speech.
The Prime Minister gave a speech about 2 weeks ago, which was to tell us we are in a lockdown, and now he’s out of action. Boris’ public persona is so clownish that no one would really take his words of comfort seriously, especially after all the herd immunity crap.
We have slim pickings in the UK!
You’re right having a clown as PM only helps the monarchy look better.
I refused to watch it when it went out live because I didn’t want to add to her ratings (petty I know).
The press had been embigging it up for days, it was as if we were going to see a sighting of Elvis.
But when I heard the excerpts, I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. It wasn’t amazing, but it was pleasant enough. I like the mention of her and her sister as children, and the reference to seeing our loved ones again. I’m surprised how strong her voice sounded, for some reason I expected her to sound frail.
But not for one second do I believe that she wrote it herself! I think the courtiers were really worried; people are really suffering and we still have front-line workers without PPE and not enough ventilators. After Charles’ jolly to Scotland against government advice and people losing their livelihoods, I think the Royal advisors knew that they HAD to make this speech a success. It also did not go unnoticed how late this speech came.
I think the reason why people were praising it so much was because with regards to the Queen (and the rest of the royals) the bar is so low; we have such little expectation from them. And I think people were ready to tear her apart if the speech was tone deaf. She is also helped by the entire British Media pushing the narrative how amazing she is.
I also think that the fact that our government has so been shit (we are constantly lied to, to the point that no matter what the MPs say, most people don’t believe them at this point), many people are just looking for any sort of comfort from a known person. And in the UK, this is even more strong as looking up to the higher classes are really built into us. I bet if Obama gave the slightest sincere speech to the American people right now, a lot people would be praising him as well.
I thought her speech hit all the right notes and was comforting to many.
Is BoJo sicker than they are claiming?? Routine tests? What routine tests? Are they downplaying this??
I do think BoJo is sicker than what’s being said. It was the first thing that crossed my mind when it was announced.
Eesh. He’s in intensive care now. Best wishes to him.
They are definitely downplaying it, no tests for covid unless lungs radio. But now media reports he is under oxygen
I think he’s a lot sicker than the people in the know are claiming.
As far as I know, there are no routine tests. If you show the symptoms and are in hospital (or a VIP), you’d be given the test and the self-isolate (ideally for 14 days, but according to the UK government, 7 days, cos we’re special).
Why would be having routine tests? And on oxygen? Unless they are take extra, extra precautions cos he’s the PM. Who knows?
Idk why the UK government is going by the 7 day isolation rule, majority of the research published says the virus has an incubation period of about 14 days and at max a period of 20 days. They shouldn’t have let him leave isolation after 7 days.
He’s hasn’t left isolation – he’s been moved to Intensive Care last night! That’s the hospital department for when you are really ill and need critical attention. They’re still trying to make out it’s nothing serious.
The only way this is like WWII is that once again blatantly racist monsters are trying to take over the world. Except they’re on the Allied side this time, too.
I thought she did what she had to do, and it will have been important for the generation who are most affected by coronavirus and probably most scared. I also don’t have an issue with the timing – we are getting to that point where we have been in lockdown for couple of weeks and people are getting bored and claustrophobic. If her trying to play to “British” characteristics makes a few more people respect the quarantine because “patriotism” then that is also good. Aside from that, its her job and she did it as expected.
Nice speech but no personal reference to her son and heir who who affected. This is not WW2. The bigger problem is BoJo is in the hospital and he runs the government. Not th the queen.. What is the line of succession for the prime minister; that is important. BP did not issue a get well statement for the PM when it was announced he had to go to the hospital. Some unity
I didn’t hear it, so have no comment or critique on it. I get why this was a big deal over there to some people. From over here, seems like the UK government response to Coronavirus has been incredibly confused, under prepared, or downright cynical (herd immunity eugenics). Boris is sicker than they’re disclosing and their health system is overwhelmed like everyone else’s. Don’t know if there are any other voices over there so if the Queen is a calming voice, not going to fault people for feeling reassured by it. We have Trump in all his shady destruction , but we also have competent governors like Cuomo and Newsome, who are stepping up, and people like Fauci countering Trumps utter incompetence. The media is also pushing back during his unhinged press briefings. It’s not much but it’s Important to have that out there. Are there other voices over there to speak up?
She was in her “Queen” bag and did what she does. It was fine and I’m sure the British people loved it. As an American though, I just can’t get over the whole “all words, no action” thing with these people and how they’ve gotten away with it for centuries. And this is only her FOURTH address to her people in nearly seventy years in the throne? That’s awful. There was an article in the Telegraph yesterday referring to her as “the most remarkable person alive” . This is brainwashing, I’m sorry. She’s not even the most remarkable person in her own boring family let alone the planet. I just don’t get it.
100% agree
They are in denial about their Queen, their Monarchy and their importance.
If you need Grandma to come on TV in order to tell you you are doing a good job, you will gon through this and we will carry on, then, I am sorry to tell you, but you are not completely functional as a modern human being.
Which explains why Brits still have their monarchy and still pine over the tremendous work ethic of an old billionaire who quite literally just done her ” comforting monarch” outfit when her legions of manchildren absolutely demand it- it is less like she is missing an empathy ship as it was quoted on the Crown, but like BettyII instinctively knows her subjects have barely passed the age of reason mentally and she finds the whole things distasteful.
Wow. You feel very strongly about another country’s constitutional set up. I’m also impressed that you have absolutely no need fr messages of hope (of any kind!) at this time! Sure, she didn’t say anything groundbreaking, but calling those who appreciated the message “not completely functional as a modern human being” is a bit strong.
I happen to think any systhem you are allowed inherit a position of Power does not fit well with democracy. I understand some sort of legacy when it comes to education, especially if a family that has a history of exemplary service towards a community falls into hard times, and I am not stupid to discount the whole natural networking that comes once is born of a ” dynasty” ( think about all those families of doctors or lawyers for example) but yeah, the idea that I should find normal grown ass people gushing about a rich woman just doing her job is ridiculous.
Where people see a 93 badass mother figure doing her Duty I see an out of touch control freak who clearly has to be prompted out of her seat to actually care people are dying.
Might be brutal, but is how I feel. I am completely fine that most brits either do not care about cancelling the freeloader´s family because it is a lot trouble, and even that some love them for some stupid reason, but since we are commenting on it, I can share my hatred.
as for messages of hope: well, if the brits are so stoic and really do appreciate ” carrying on” surely they could pass without, huh?
I appreciate real warmth and real empathy, bit self-serving innocuous gestures. This granny had enough in her to go out of her way and make all those grand gestures towards her piece of shit son, that she sat there and thought a baby being compared to a chimp was ” business as usual” means she can go to hell in my book.
I know the British are “proud” of their monarchy, but to me (an American) I think having a monarchy is an embarrassment for that country. Not just because the individuals in the royal family are dull, unintelligent, and useless, but the whole *concept* of a monarchy is ridiculous in the modern world.
I think maybe the monarchy plays into people’s nostalgia for past glories, when they had an “empire” that could rule lesser/primitive people in distant lands. Sort of the way the republican party in the USA brings up “the good old days” when cities were racially segregated, and women and minorities couldn’t go to college or compete with white men. Nostalgia for a racist, sexist era.
And is not like they don´t go out of their way to make the existence of the aristocracy and royalty appear to be a great asset to them. Downton Abbey…the Crown…both brainchildren of members of the upper classes, both sympathetic to their plights. No, I am not saying Windsors pay producers to put this shows there, but it goes to show the brits are very into this notion of them being ” apart”, of another ” class” and this feeling is ingrained and it perpetuates itself quite cleverly. They always find new ways of keeping their positions and their greatest victory is to make a great parcel of the population believe they are something to be proud of.
HINT: they are not.
Hi Priscilla – So the Downton Abbey/ The Crown thing is complicated and I can see how it might be more confusing to an outsider. Those shows and others like them are popular but they are not the most popular narrative entertainment in the UK. That honor goes to a variety of soaps and sitcoms that are based around working and to a lesser extent middle class people (see Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Gavin & Stacey, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Derry Girls etc.)
However these shows don’t seem to translate well outside the UK and Ireland whilst Downton Abbey/The Crown and all those upper class period dramas are our most popular exports. I’ve definitely heard Downton referred to more in US media than UK media.
This maybe because they fuel the fantasy/stereotype that all Brits are either Lords or butlers and live on fancy estates. Downton Abbey, in particular, has been criticized as just milking the Americans for cash with stereotypes and an unrealistic impression of ordinary UK life.
@Mara — just as an FYI, Corrie Street has been the #1 soap opera in Canada for over thirty years. Some diehard fans here…
The fact that the british TV is not only producing or co producing such show is telling in itself. Then you have Bond movies, franchises like the Kingsmen…a great section of British cultural production is geared towards such offerings. It is almost like Michael Bay and his American flags and shots of airplanes- the brits and their Britishness are coded as conforming to this status quo. Nevermind that people abroad have no idea of how working class operates in UK and what they watch…
Let’s not forget when women couldn’t vote!
@ mrs.krabapple You can have a democracy and an un-elected head of state. It all comes down to where power is distributed. But at the end of the day, if you don’t understand the British constitution and how it works then you might perceive it as ridiculous – I can see that. I am not a monarchist but I also don’t feel strongly about who is our ceremonial head of state. As regards constitutional reform I feel much more strongly about reform of the House of Lords. The problem on this site, I frequently find, is that there is no real understanding of how the UK constitution works – for instance there was criticism that the Queen did not refuse to prorogue parliament. In reality, I would have been all for immediately getting rid of the monarchy if she had refused – much more constitutionally problematic!
Me too @Priscilla, I have not listened to the speech like billions of people in the world who haven’t but we carry on because others depend on us and there is really no other choice. This speech is pointless.
It would have made a difference a couple of weeks back, she or Charles addressing the nation to ask people to take it seriously, respect distances, not go out when feeling sick, etc.
Then, yes, I would think a figure of authority addressing the country would be a positive thing. yes, she needs the Parlament, yes there is protocol, but nowadays there are literally a ton of things that could be done , and is not like she has not engaged in such moves before- remember when she sent Andrew to dine with the Chinese Ambassador and tell how concerned she was about the virus?
Where there is will, there is way.
Apparently Boris Johnson was moved to the ICU, so he is very ill. I also posted yesterday that the Marquess of Bath died from COVID-19. I wonder if William still finds this so f*cking hilarious? He still hasn’t apologized.
William is busy watching tons of TV and making five-minute phone calls to random doctors to thank them for their work so that he can post on his Instagram to even bother checking the news.
Kate is nearby choosing her next pussy-bow dress and playing with her voodoo Meghan doll.
I’m not bothered by her speech and not my government system. It seemed to be what people needed over there. She should have controlled her ship better before everything fell into the disarray House Windsor is now in, so she needed to make her points and present for her sake as well. The prime minister is gravely ill and now in ICU, so who knows what the next person in charge will be doing. At least Labour finally got a new leader to replace Corbyn. On a shallow note, her dress was almost the exact shade of green as Meghan’s Commonwealth day dress, and I like her brooch.
I was underwhelmed. First, if she is trying to encourage Britons to do right, maybe she should start with with own family and drag Zara into isolation by her hair. The speech didn’t really do anything to impress on people what they need to do – stay inside, masks, etc. She could lead by example.
If you want to watch a leader who is both firm and reassuring and hopeful, I’d encourage you all to watch Angela Merkel’s speech a few weeks ago.
I don’t understand how people can find comfort in the words of someone who’s useless and who lacks so much integrity.
This was not received well! They barely got 13mil views!!!! It shows how alot of people are displeased with the monarchy. The frail old grandma routine isnt working like it used to. No wonder they rushed to hire Meghan and Harry’s ex chief of communications Sara Latham.
I think it was better received in the US. None of my British colleagues seemed to really care about it but a lot of my friends here in the states were posting on SM about the Queen’s speech and how it brought them to tears. I think it’s a bigger deal here because Trump is such POS
This speech was streamed to the Commonwealth nations with a preamble before and discussion after. I watched it live and it is clear that there imonarch’s solid compassionate and an experienced leader. Her speech was well received by its intended audience.
What is understood need not be said.
.