Platinum Jubilee book for school children sparks debate online

As part of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, celebrating 70 years on the throne, every primary school child in the UK is set to receive a commemorative book. The cost of this project is reported to be around $16.3 million (£12 million), which has angered some online, while others argue this is a historic moment.

• Plans to give school children a commemorative book about the Queen’s 70-year reign has divided opinion.
• Some have argued the money “could be better spent” while others point out this is a “once in a lifetime event.”
• In other royal news, Prince Charles' first appearance since Covid isolation has royal fans divided.

2022 is a big year for Her Majesty as she celebrates a historic reign on the throne, extending her title as the longest-reigning British monarch in history.

Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch on September 9, 2015, when she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother Victoria and this year she will celebrate becoming the first British monarch to see 70 years on the throne.

The Platinum Jubilee celebrations have already begun with a tea party, but one element of those celebratory offerings is currently facing a lot of backlash.

To commemorate and inform children about the history of Her Majesty's long reign, there are plans to send every primary school child in the UK a commemorative book about the Queen.

The cost of this is what’s dividing opinion, as the rumored cost of the project is just over $16 million (£12 million).

Dawn Butler, a British MP, has written to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on him to consider making the book an online source and using the money to address other issues facing schools, like adequate ventilation to prevent the spread of COVID.

In her letter, Dawn expressed admiration for the Queen but questioned the timing of such a costly gesture.

She wrote, "Like most people in the UK, I have a huge amount of respect for the Queen’s long record of public service, but I do not feel this is an appropriate commemoration…"

"At a time when the Department for Education has failed to ensure all schools have adequate ventilation, £12 million would go a long way to improving the situation and providing a bulwark against further spread of COVID-19 as infection rates remain high among young people."

While many have agreed with sentiments shared by the politician, others have pointed out this is a moment in history we may never see repeat.

One fan wrote on Twitter the plans are “absolutely justifiable. This is the first, and quite possibly only, time our Monarch celebrates 70 years on the throne”

Agreeing with this sentiment, another Twitter user wrote that the commemorative books sent to the children will be “something they will cherish for years to come,” comparing them to the books sent to children after the Queen’s coronation in 1952.