Thoughts on the Diamond Jubilee  Thoughts on the Diamond
Jubilee: Sixty Years a Rubber Stamp By Sean Gabb  Those of us
who pay attention to such things will have noticed a difference
between the BBC coverage of the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and of
the present Diamond Jubilee. Ten years ago, the coverage was
adequate, though reluctant and even a little stiff. This time,
it has been gushing and completely uncritical. There are various
possible reasons for my observation. The first is that I was
mistaken then and am mistaken now. I do not think this is the
case, but feel obliged to mention it. The second is that Golden
Jubilees are rare events, and Diamond Jubilees very rare events,
and that extreme rarity justifies a setting aside of republican
scruples. The third is that the BBC was taken by surprise in
2002 by the scale of public enthusiasm, and does not wish to be
caught out again. The fourth is that, while not particularly
conservative on main issues, we do now have a Conservative
Government, and this is heade