Courtiers call time on Jubilee drinking

by Richard Ford and Alan Hamilton

Buckingham Palace is opposing plans for round-the-clock drinking during the Queen's Golden Jubilee because it fears public drunkenness will spoil celebrations.

Courtiers have objected to the idea of allowing bars and public houses to open for 36 hours during the two-day Jubilee Bank Holiday on June 3-4 next year. Their opposition has raised eyebrows among Whitehall officials who believe a more pragmatic view will have to be taken.

However, even if Labour wins the general election, Home Office proposals to ease licensing laws to allow 24-hour drinking are unlikely to be in force before next June. Ministers would have to seek approval from Parliament for a deregulation order.

Buckingham Palace's disapproval of longer drinking hours reflects a caution which was seen at the start of the Queen's reign. In 1953 it opposed plans to televise the Coronation Service in Westminster Abbey because of the Queen's opposition and also because it believed a large audience watching a religious service over 'coffee cups' would detract from its dignity.

Similar fears had been expressed in 1923 when the wedding of the future George V1 and present Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was not broadcast because the Archbishop of Canterbury was alarmed that men in pubs might listen with their hats on.

The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 was celebrated with a similar four-day public holiday, but it was marked by family street parties rather than drunkenness. The drought was more than compensated for by 160,000 people who drank 50,000 pints at a Jubilee beer festival in London.