2012 A Great Year For A Great Reign And For Great Britain.

You would have to be living on another planet to have missed the fact that this year has been and will continue to be a real big one for The UK.

The news this weekend has been dominated by the Queens Diamond Jubilee. Sixty amazing years as monarch. Queen Elizabeth has seen it all. The progression of technology worldwide, the space landings, wars, the progression of cars. In personal matters, she's been a wife, borne 4 children, has 8 grandchildren and if I believe correctly the second Great Grandchild is due in the summer.

I am far from what I would describe as "A Royalist" but as with the wedding of William and Kate last year, this country has done Royalty proud. The jubilee concert was amazing. There has been a real sense of Britishness around the countries. The kids have been really into it. And I am not too proud to admit that I still get tears in my eyes when I hear the National Anthem (God Save The Queen)  and a little video montage covering the last 60 years of her life had me full of tears too. I am a big soppy Brit girl.

So around the country, we have all been celebrating. The kids had parties at school, there were a couple of street parties around the village and Britain celebrated like this:

 Many streets across Britain were adorned by festive bunting.

 Huge crowds gathered in The Mall. The Approach Road to Buckingham Palace. On the average day there was a celebration of sorts at the Palace, this crowd was estimated at 1.3million plus.

 The Big Concert was held on the stage in front of Buckingham Palace. Some of the biggest stars over the past 60 years performed for The Royal Family. All were there except The Queens 94 year old husband Prince Philip who had been hospitalised due to a bladder infection. He is recovering well.

 The Street Parties of 2012 were in full swing over the bank holiday weekend. 4 days of celebrations were held Saturday through to Tuesday.

This weeks street parties echoed those of the 1952 Coronation.

 Some pretty patriotic nails.

 The Queen on stage at the Jubilee Concert with Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and some of the worlds  hugest stars. Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams, Will I Am,  Elton John, Jessie J, Kylie Minogue. The Queen was escorted on stage by the man who planned it all and wrote the Official Commonwealth Song "Sing" - Mr Gary Barlow (he of the band Take That)

 On the final day, The Red Arrows did an amazing fly past accompanied by a range of historical warplanes. Britain does it well when they put their mind to such matters.

 The beginning of the celebrations had a Royal show regatta when the River Thames was returned to it's glory days and used as a working River. 1.6million people lined the streets and bridges to watch the spectacle.

And of course.... No British Bank Holiday weekend is complete without RAIN.

Despite the rainfall Britain put on a fantastic show of unity. The rule Great Britain had over the world at various points in history may have diminished as more and more countries have got their independence over the years but it was still a fabulous weekend to experience. It truly was a once in a lifetime occurrance, I sincerely hope that in 5 and 10 years time we get to experience it all over again.

 Sixty Years Ago

Celebrating those Sixty Years upon the Royal barge on The River Thames.

And just to end my patriot journey, here is the official song being performed on the night. Introduced by Gary Barlow the song is performed by some singers from the Commonwealth and the female choir are Britains "Military Wives". Gary Barlow plays piano and looks so proud to be doing it!!! (And so he should be, Mr Barlow should be getting a knighthood for services to music and the efforts he made for his country,)



With all this in one weekend - I never thought I would hear myself say it but........

Bring on The Olympics!!!