by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Yikes!
What can she be thinking of?
It has been announced from Buckingham Palace (by the Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel) that Her Majesty the Queen (known to favored intimates as "Betty Windsor") has cancelled this year's staff Christmas party. Thus are the 600 people who serve her in myriad capacities deprived of the joy of making merrie from her privy purse (meaning she pays for the dainties herself).
Why did she do it?
Lord Peel in his email notification says it's because of England's punk economic condition. Cynical royal watchers opine that it's because the Queen wants to make a point about the hardships of royal living in advance of Parliament's consideration of her civil list, namely what she gets from the nation for doing her job. In other words, she's negotiating with the government and figures that taking bon bons from the staff will help achieve her goal of more money faster.
The reason doesn't much matter, however. The plain fact (whatever the reason) is that Her Royal Majesty is (dare we say it).... just plain cheap.
This Christmas season we need MORE parties... not fewer for the very reason that so many are suffering and need a good day out. The Queen should be doing her bit, not showing the Sugar Plum fairy the door.
Let's contrast the Queen's behavior with that of Mame Dennis in the smash Broadway musical (and film), "Mame." In the depth of the depression, Mame, her family and staff are glum, decidedly in the dumps. Instead of canceling Christmas (like you-know-who) Mame sings "We need a little Christmas now"... and belts out a festive song while (at least momentarily) lightening that load for the people she loves, the people who know and serve her. In short, challenged though she is, she does what she can.
It's a far better thing she does than the tight-lipped and tighter-fisted Betty Windsor, for the royal decision (calculated though it may be) brings no joy to anyone... but her, the very antithesis of the purpose of Christmas.
We can help in at least two ways
First, contact Buckingham Palace at once, protesting this silly decision. We KNOW she has the money.... and if she wants to negotiate with Prime Minister Cameron for more funds for palace upkeep and maintenance, fair enough. But let's not take it out on the staff... who have to feel hurt and disappointed at this niggardly decision, stiffer upper lip or not.
Indeed, let's go farther. Let's all chip in and turn a bad decision into a terrific pot-luck. Let's all offer to supply a favorite Christmas goodie to her larder, tagged exclusively for the benefit of her staff. My grandmother's Christmas sugar cookies were always a hit back in Illinois and were shipped to grateful (and expectant) friends and relatives worldwide; even the crumbs were treasured. I offer a dozen of these... not least because my grandmother (born in 1901) was named after.... you guessed it: Queen Victoria! It seems right and proper that her cookies go towards helping Betty out with her difficulties!
Make sure YOU have your own Christmas party... or invite a few more people to the one you've already scheduled.
Her Majesty's cancelled Christmas party was budgeted at 50,000 pounds sterling, about $80,000 USD. That's grand indeed. But, remember this about Christmas: it's the thought that counts. Rather than cancel the party and the joy therefrom, Her Majesty should have held it, doing the best she could with less... just the way the rest of the world is doing. Just because you can't have a party with the grand and imperial flourishes you'd prefer is no reason to (petulantly) cancel the whole shebang. A party is about the people... not about whether the champagne is vintage.
Make this Christmas season the one where you discover the real meaning of the season. It is about sharing... the good times and the bad... together. It is about offering the best you can (and can afford) while reaching out to old friends and new, grateful to see and welcome them, not to impress, but to re-connect and make it clear that you care.
Here is where Her Gilded Majesty went right off the rails... and shows me she needs to have a Tiny Tim remind her of wherein the true joy and meaning of the season resides: it is about the sincerity and affection of the gift, not its lavishness or cost. We need gifts that show what is in our heart... not our bank account.
Let's say that the Queen really couldn't afford the cost of her party (she's worth a billion or more, but let's not be petty). Who can doubt that if she had done anything... but done it with real affection and gratitude.. that the event would still have been the highlight of the year: a gesture of profound sincerity and consideration. Yes, it would have been touching and forever remembered. Even with day old doughnuts.
Thus, our first suggestion (given with the utmost humility) is this: :Queen of England and dominions over the seas, reinstate your devoted staff's Christmas party and resolve that you will do more with less; above all that you will use the event to radiate more joy and more happy memories, rather than do away with them altogether. Use your royal powers for good, to live the true sentiments of the season.
And as for the rest of us: let us learn from this imperial error and use it to enhance our own Christmas, to make this, because of the misery around us and an economy doing no better than mediocre, the best Christmas ever... with the one and only focus being on how to bring joy to the most, even if that joy is simply the warmest and most heartfelt of embraces and the sharing of yourself. For if you do these things, the true embodiment of Christmas, you will do more than a queen.... be she ever so rich and empowered.
Richard Penny
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