Many young Britons avoiding Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Survey

A new survey by CNN has found that many young Britons living in London are actively avoiding Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations that are underway this weekend.

Ahead of the celebrations, which mark the Queen’s 70-year reign, CNN spoke to several Britons under 30 living across London – the epicenter of festivities – about their views.

The results showed many are against the celebrations, citing everything from colonialism to the lack of diversity as reasons why they won't be out in the crowds of royal revelers this weekend.

Many were also indifferent to it, while some others were irritated by all the ceremony for a person and institution they say has no place in their lives.

"I'm sick of it. I'm currently in the middle of packing to go to Italy," Joss MacDonald told CNN on Tuesday from his home in the London borough of Hackney, where nearly 50 street parties have been organized this weekend.

MacDonald, 29, said that his childhood wasn't filled with memories of the Queen and his family were far from "royalists."

However, he said, his mother is still going to a jubilee gathering on their street, "mostly because it's a good excuse for a party."

Like many other young Britons, MacDonald said that the monarchy, whose wealth and power is linked to a legacy of British colonialism, has failed to modernize and is disconnected from today's multicultural Britain.

He went on to say that he thought the royal family with "its history of militarism and imperialism" was undemocratic and should be abolished -- not celebrated in a four-day jubilee holiday across the UK.

"I won't begrudge people a good time. I think the opportunity to have a big national celebration is great, but it's such a shame that it has to be for this institution," he added.

Josie Watson, 25, also said she won’t be tuning in to watch the festival.

Watson, who lives in Ealing, a district in west London, where 154 street parties will be hosted by residents, said she is apathetic about the jubilee because she "doesn't see the point in celebrating someone who was just born into a family and assigned a role."

Despite having grown up in a family that is pro-monarchy, Watson believes that "young people disconnect with the royal family because we've never lived at a time where their leadership has meant much."

They served their purpose to provide "patriotism and leadership" during wartime but now "priorities have shifted," she added.

ME