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Good morning There’ve been headlines this week warning of a bunting shortage all over the UK leading up to the Jubilee weekend. While concerns about bunting may seem trivial with everything else going on in the world, perhaps it points to something which is deeply human: that in the middle of grim circumstances, with a cost of living crisis looming, we want something to celebrate. Sometimes it’s said that some communities, including Muslims, don’t acknowledge the royal family and wouldn’t want to be involved in a Jubilee celebration. But my experience in Muslim communities has been uplifting and positive while acknowledging that there are different views and that of course is fine too. Last week I visited two schools where most of the pupils are Muslim girls. We sat and ate coronation chicken sandwiches and mini roast dinners made by the girls as part of their food tech lessons, alongside scones, samosas and victoria sandwich cakes. The local mayor who is Sikh was there as were members of local churches and synagogues. The school pupils wrote poems about the Queen, celebrating her life of sacrifice and service, linking that back to Islamic values. Through his life, Prophet Muhammad taught about the crucial aspects of charity, being more than just giving money but also of giving time and the importance of leading by example. When entering Madinah having been persecuted over many months, he gave a simple but powerful instruction to build the early community “spread peace, feed people, pray at night, keep the ties of kinship” One Muslim woman I spoke to, Saira, is organising a street party in East London. She runs a food bank serving a diverse group of people. When asked why she was doing this for the Jubilee she said she had come to Britain as a refugee from Uganda and remembered how much she loved the Silver Jubilee and wanted to help make happy memories for others in her community. So for me, this weekend is not about celebrating privilege and opulence, it’s about acknowledging that the Queen has been a stable force over 70 years of enormous demographic change, and someone who has led by example. It’s also a chance to sit and eat together, celebrate and thank each other while making sure that everyone feels included at our table. Many in our local communities are really struggling right now and we need to support each other through these difficult times. And I’m very much looking forward to seeing glorious bunting strung up, in all its diversity, around the UK.