The Diamond Jubilee is now history and the Olympics will now move centre stage

[fedsron2us]

Just out of interest I did some calculations about the relative cost of the two events together with the cost of the monarchy overall

The Guardian reckons the annual cost of the monarchy is about £32 million per annum

http://www.guardian....2-2012-compared

We dont have precise figures for the Jubilee but the Guardian says the river pageant cost about £10 million and I would reckon that another £20 million in direct costs can be thrown in for policing, air displays etc (I have ignored the indirect economic cost of the extra Bank Holiday because that sort of impact is not in the Olympic budget either)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/05/diamond-jubilee-taxpayer-foot-bill?newsfeed=true

The House of Commons Public Accounts committee reckons the budget for London Olympic is heading towards the £11 billion mark (though some others think the figure is a lot higher).

http://www.guardian....london-olympics

Using those figures I calculate that the money we will be blowing on that global corporate jamboree in East London in July and August would have paid for our current monarchy for the next 343 years. Even if we chucked in a Jubilee every year it would still take well over 150 years to spend the same amount of money as the 2012 Olympics. The cost of this sporting boondoggle is simply astounding.

[Siwsan]

1. I'm looking forward to watching the Jubilee concert, tonight

I am fortunate to get the CBC out of Windsor, Ontario, on my cable systemand they are broadcasting the Jubilee concert, starting at 7.

I was in London for the Silver Jubilee, and really wish I could have made it over, for this one. The energy in that crowd in front of the palace has to be felt, to be believed.