Diamond Jubilee

The Queen is to celebrate her diamond jubilee this year; 60 years she has served/reigned.  That is quite an accomplishment.

Me, I like the Queen, and the Monarchy. I see it as a symbol of our country, and I also feel it gives us distinction and separates us from many other countries. I also believe that the monarchy brings in money to our country as well.  I don’t have any exact figures, but I’m sure they are out there as there are figures and numbers for everything; but I believe it does bring tourist money and revenue in general to our fair country.

And from what I have read, it may be costing us as well. I read that it has been speculated that the celebrations for the diamond jubilee will bring in an increase in tourism, and profits to the shops, but that the extra bank holiday in June, June 5th to be exact, could reduce the gross domestic product or GDP of the country in the second quarter of this year by 0.5%.  This as forecasters are already predicting a return to a recession and growth for the entire year 2012 of just 0.6%.

Last year the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the extra bank holiday was stated to have helped growth for that particular quarter of the year.  Odd, then I would think the Queen’s celebration would do the same. I do know some small business owners who feel and state that the extra bank holidays cost them dearly.  They still have to pay staff, and the usual bills, but they will be closed, so no revenue coming in.  For the hotels, and shops that do stay open, it can be a boom in business.

Personally, I am not that much on speculating the economy’s growth or non-growth.  I work in the trenches with the people who are in debt, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lunchbox who just want to have a job, go to work, take a holiday each year, and retire somewhere warm, or at least warmer. 

So I will wait and see how it goes this year, and me, myself and I, will not look to place blame on a weak economy, just to a woman celebrating 60 years of public work and service, who would have retired years ago had she not accepted this huge and lifelong responsibility.