Under ‘My’ Umbrella

So I see on the news today that poor Liz has come a cropper when muttering under her brolly.

It would seem that said brolly amplifies sound and HRH was overhead saying something she shouldn’t have and it’s all over the Press.

Don’t you just hate it when that happens.

I have to say I’m a bit miffed that Her Maj has copied my choice of brolly.

I clearly had mine first.

And, I know this for a fact.  Simply because it didn’t come in pink.

Not of course that I’m bitter about that as I would only ever have chosen a neutral colour.

None of this matching umbrellas to outfits and all that.  Or to one outfit – bit frivolous – eh Liz!

But hey, a little frivolity keeps the economy moving so who am I to judge.

Spot on with the pink outfit though.  You’ve certainly still got it.

It’s always lovely to see you in bright colours

More importantly thought, Queenie – I want to say thank you to you for taking it for the team!

Because who knew the sound amplified under our brollies while we were trying to keep our little hair-do’s from going frizzy.

Many an innocent carrier could have been gossiping to their heart’s content, blissfully unaware that they could be clearly heard by bystanders.

You’ve given us all a heads up on that one and probably saved a few friendships and embarrassing conversations along the way.

And so you see Liz, when I think about it,  we’ve actually got more in common than I first thought.

I sat and watched your family on your birthday sharing your cine tape memories – along with many others, I’m guessing.

It was a little bit like a posh gogglebox.

Us watching you, watching you.

The thing was though Liz, what we saw was a family just like ours..

I’m not talking about the house or anything and obviously not the money  but I sat on my sofa with tears rolling down my cheeks.

And I’m sure I wasn’t alone.

You see every family across the world would have done that self same thing at some point or another.

Sat down with their elders or youngers and watched cine or video memories.

And cried.

To see your grandsons, William & Harry, give an Ant & Dec style commentary on what they were seeing reminded of my two nephews doing the same thing with their nan.

And of my own daughter and niece with their nana

Then came the toys.

The blue giraffe that William and Harry remember from their own childhood.

The same blue giraffe that is also a part of their children’s lives too.

We all have that toy.  Not your giraffe of course, but the toy that has passed through the generations that every child has played with.

Again, I’m guessing you are a bit like me and you don’t like to throw things away.

A bit sentimental.

We all are.

And I have to say that you have nailed it this time.

There were many years where we couldn’t relate to you and your way of life and we were very critical of you being out of touch.

I guess the turning point really came when the boys lost their mother.

The public backlash was unforgiving.

Nobody wanted a remote Sovereign anymore, we wanted you to be more like us.

Enough was enough.  Such difficult times.

Yet over recent years you have shown us a different side.

And then you opened your home and allowed the world to share your very private moments.

You have shown us that all along you were doing the same things that we did.

The men played on the beach and rolled their trousers up just like our fathers did.

The Uncles chased the children until they shrieked.  Just like ours did.

And of course there was always the joker that tormented everyone.

Every family has one.

You have done something quite wonderful and shown that it doesn’t matter who we are or where we come from.

Everyone has a blue giraffe.

Happy Birthday Your Majesty!

Nicky