Peter Wilby: Forget the Queen's Jubilee. Let's Have a Knees-Up for the Magna Carta

Peter Wilby was for many years an education correspondent on various newspapers. He later became editor of the Independent on Sunday and, from 1998 to 2005, editor of the New Statesman.

The glossy newspaper supplements are out, the BBC (supposedly a hotbed of subversive lefties) is preparing wall-to-wall coverage, MPs are going on holiday for two weeks, the populace is ready to put out the flags and the picnic tables. In an orgy of deference, we are celebrating Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne. If any other country were paying homage to an unelected head of state in this way, while the living standards of the majority of the population fall and schools and hospitals struggle with diminishing resources, we would call it "the cult of the personality" and probably think about invading.

According to a Guardian/ICM poll last week, the royal family is more popular than ever, with only 22% believing Britain would be better off without a monarchy, and as few as 10% preferring, on the Queen's death, an elected head of state rather than a King Charles or William. As Elizabeth II's supporters never tire of pointing out, the unelected monarch is far more popular than any elected politician.

That is unsurprising. The Queen never has to say anything controversial, allocate resources between competing claims, or take decisions that provoke disagreement. If your job is confined to uttering bland pleasantries, shaking hands and distributing gongs, it is quite difficult to be unpopular. Since you are exempt from freedom of information laws, you are not at risk of having your expenditure on moats and duck ponds highlighted in newspapers. Since you took office without election, you do not have to contend with the disappointed or disgruntled supporters of your rivals and, since nobody is paid to lead an opposition to you, you do not have to face weekly questions about how you discharge your duties.

Elizabeth II has understood all that...