My Kids Dressed Up for a Parade in England

A Fun Family Moment

During our vacation in Brighton, we joined a local Halloween-style parade where people dressed up as anything British. My daughter wore a Queen Elizabeth outfit, complete with corgis, and my son was her royal guard, wearing a bearskin hat and carrying a plastic rifle. “People loved it. Tourists clapped, Brits chuckled,” and even offered tea biscuits. It felt like a lighthearted, silly moment and a parenting win.

Unexpected Encounter

As we neared the end of the parade route, laughing and enjoying the attention, we noticed an older woman watching us closely. She stood apart from the cheerful crowd, wrapped in a heavy coat and scarf, with a cold, piercing gaze. When we got closer, she looked at my children’s costumes and said, “Excuse me,” in a stern voice.

A Harsh Question

I wasn’t sure what to expect but replied politely. The woman said, “I hope you’re not teaching your children that the monarchy is something to be celebrated.” She added, “You’re encouraging them to dress up as figures who represent a system of power, privilege, and oppression. Have you thought about what that actually means?”

A Moment of Reflection

Her words shocked me. I hadn’t expected such criticism during what I thought was a fun family event. Her “eyes filled with something that bordered on disdain,” and I was left to reconsider the meaning behind the costumes and the parade.