Royal Ascot, which is said to the Queen’s favourite sporting event is considering cancelling Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory from its annual singalong from next year. UNN’s Oliver Down understands that organisers have confirmed that they may scrap the songs from Ascot’s five-day world-famous bandstand celebrations in 2021.
It has been a tradition for decades for hundreds of race-goers to gather around the bandstand at 6 pm to celebrate the end of each day at Royal Ascot and enter into renditions of Jerusalem, Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory, and God Save the Queen.
However, an insider has stated that festival bosses are fearful that the inclusion of anthems, which have been criticised by anti-racism campaigners could cause a ‘backlash’ and create ‘most unwelcome attention’.
An insider has said: ‘Much like the move to remove Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory from the Royal Albert Hall festival, there is a rising level of unease among the organisers who are certainly fearing a backlash because of those particular songs’ perceived association with colonialism and slavery. Despite all the traditions of the past, the feeling at the moment is that it would be most unwelcome attention for the festival, the Queen and the rest of the royal family and a decision to remove the singalong is expected to be ratified’.
Royal Ascot has confirmed that the song’s presence will be reviewed but insisted that this is common practice. A spokesman has said: ‘The pieces selected for the meeting are a mixture of traditional and more modern songs. As in previous years, these will be reviewed in the run-up to Royal Ascot.’
[give_form id=”1772″ show_title=”false” show_goal=”false” show_content=”below” display_style=”modal”]
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
[sibwp_form id=4]
