It doesn’t seem like ten years ago I was in England at the time of Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee. England was really buoyant then with the Jubilee and then the London Olympics lifting everyone’s mood. It was quite profound lots of happy people in the street dressing up and partying. It was Britain at its best. Anything seemed possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Ten later we’ve had Brexit, Boris, COVID, inflation and growing social inequality and now the death of the Queen. It must feel like the stuffing has been kicked out of the country. I’m not a fan of the monarchy – I think that they are an anachronism, a relic from feudal times that has no place in a modern society. But, having said that Queen Elizabeth II was a constant presence who gave the impression that she’d just go on for ever and now she has gone. I wonder whether Charles will be able to engender the same feelings or whether he will be the king who turns Britain into a collective of republican states. It will be interesting to see what the next ten years will bring.