After a gloomy, freezing winter and the seemingly never-ending tide of economic bad news, county residents finally have something to smile about.

The sun is out and celebrations for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee are getting into full swing.

It’s great to see Her Majesty even dipping into her own pocket to help with church repairs in Leafield, West Oxfordshire.

And county residents are set to show their continued support for The Queen and The Royal Family with a litany of Jubilee celebrations this weekend.

City residents cheered on civic leaders in a procession on Saturday that set the celebrations in motion.

Of course, some republicans will sneer at the whole event.

But at their heart, the Jubilee events are about community spirit.

Not many things can bring the country together quite so vividly as The Royal Family – with the exception perhaps of the World Cup, or an EastEnders cliffhanger.

So raise your glass – to Her Majesty and the sense of Britishness and togetherness she inspires.