One Day – Two Birthdays

Yesterday was a day to remember.

It was Robert’s birthday and the Queen’s Birthday Parade. Her Majesty’s b’day was celebrated with swagger and style but I think she would approve of the intimate lunch in the garden at Number 56 after her BP; less trying than lunch at the palace. As you can see (above) I turned up early though not as early as my guest’s daughter who arrived at 4.30 am with two friends and two corgis. They were interviewed on coast-to-coast American news channels.

As you can see we had a pretty good view and I was fortunate in having an old hand from the Micks sitting beside me. He’s a stickler for the finer points of ceremonial, uniforms and even the programme of music supplying me with a running commentary. I loved it when he said – “now it’s Slattery’s Mounted Fut – so Mick”.

Take a look at the lassie in green at the bottom of the picture. She serves in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Another rather dashing young woman serves in the Australian army. In the stands there was a variety of dress. A chap was wearing a steel (?) cross beneath his top hat and double chin: St John’s ambulance! My senior army chap whose morning coat was unadorned with medals told me it is not correct to wear medals with civilian dress, something not adhered to by members of the royal family this morning at St Paul’s. But the royal family are a breed apart, like corgis.

I was out gunned by my distinguished neighbour yesterday but tried to do my bit. I pointed out a young man wearing a Pop morning coat and Pop trousers. I was unaware he is an Old Etonian – he didn’t mention it.

The overwhelming importance of yesterday’s parade is the contrast with the Victory Parade in Moscow last month. A parade muddling politics with military might, censorship and nationalism; despotism versus democracy. Yesterday there were rifles and bayonets but the only heavy weaponry was guns, I think, dating back to the First World War.