My Kids Dressed Up for a Parade in England
During a fun Halloween parade in Brighton, my daughter dressed as Queen Elizabeth, and my son wore a royal guard costume. “People loved it,” with tourists clapping and Brits chuckling. The kids were excited and proud, making it one of my favorite parenting moments.
As we neared the parade’s end, a woman watching us suddenly spoke. She was older, cold, and serious, unlike the cheerful crowd. She looked at the costumes and said, “I hope you’re not teaching your children that the monarchy is something to be celebrated.”
I was stunned. She accused us of encouraging “figures who represent a system of power, privilege, and oppression.” Her tone was scornful, and her glare was filled with disdain.
This unexpected confrontation reminded me how symbols like the monarchy can mean very different things to different people.
