Queen’s Jubilee tribute at Stonehenge leaves opinion split

A tribute to the Queen at the historical site Stonehenge has left some people feeling ‘disgusted’ as the celebrations increase as we approach the Jubilee weekend.

The World Heritage site projected eight images – one from each decade of her rule – on Salisbury Plains, Wiltshire, on Monday (May 30) including a black and white photograph of the Queen at her coronation in June 1953 when she was just 27. Other images include Her Majesty, 96, walking her beloved pet corgis at the Cross Country course on the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials in 1980.

It is managed by English Heritage but the monument itself is owned by the Crown. The prehistoric site has roots archaeologists believe date back to 3000 BC – although many questions about its history remain unanswered – and it holds spiritual significance for many Pagans and Druids.

Read more: The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee RAF flypast route over Wiltshire

Releasing a video of the tribute marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee, English Heritage said: “We are here to pay tribute to the Queen on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee. English Heritage is projecting onto the stones at Stonehenge a beautiful image – one from every decade of her reign.

“We wanted to show different aspects of the Queen, of her personality, of her interests and just really show what a special lady she is.”

Many people were quick to label the commemoration on the social media site as ‘tacky’ with some even left feeling ‘disgusted’.

Twitter user @SMctoot commented: “As a pagan who has visited this intensely spiritual “church”, I am disgusted it is being used like this.” While @WeirdBristol added: “That is the most mind blowingly tacky thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

@RobinWhitlock66 said: And did you ask or consider Britain’s Pagan community, to whom the stones are sacred, before you did this? Almost certainly not. Did you consider that the stones were erected by our Pagan ancestors eons before the Norman kings? HAVE SOME RESPECT!!!

@TheCastleHunter: “Conflating a modern British monarch – and everything they represent in the current political environment – with ancient societies who in no way acknowledged any of the political boundaries we currently live with is a disservice to public history. Plays into some ugly narratives.”

But not everyone was dismissive of the tribute to Her Majesty, with many others congratulating English Heritage for the commemorative projection.

@RoyalDickie praised: “What a beautiful and amazing tribute by #EnglishHeritage – projecting images of The Queen, from each decade of her reign, on to Stonehenge to mark her #PlatinumJubilee.”

While @NilavraM said: “It’s only projections of the Queen. I don’t think there’s any disrespect intended or made here. We all love and enjoy Stonehenge whether we’re Pagans or not. I’d be more concerned about some of the abuse and misuse those stones receive from people during the year.”

Another Twitter user @mikepriestley13 they thought the projections of the Queen through the years at Stonehenge looked “brilliant”.

The display in Wiltshire is just one of many ways in which the UK will unite this week to mark 70 years of the Queen sitting on the throne in line with the monarch’s coronation on June 2, 1953.

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