Upside Down Royalty is a poem I wrote and performed on the streets for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
In the midst of the UK questioning the integrity of its leadership, the aim of this poem is to be an accessible illustration of why the Incarnation matters and point to the greatest leader, the one we can truly entrust our lives with.
What if the Queen gave up her royal life of luxury to be homeless on London's streets?
What if she left behind the daily six course dinners for a simple meal deal to eat?
Swapped the corgis and crown jewels to wear a red jacket
Lit up a fag packet and the only security guard she had was a staffy on a leash?
What if she left behind the daily six course dinners for a simple meal deal to eat?
Swapped the corgis and crown jewels to wear a red jacket
Lit up a fag packet and the only security guard she had was a staffy on a leash?
No Rolls Royce to take out for a Sunday test drive
No personal chauffeur to drive her to royal appointments on time
Lizzie would have to wait like everyone else on the Elizabeth line.
Mind the gap!
No personal chauffeur to drive her to royal appointments on time
Lizzie would have to wait like everyone else on the Elizabeth line.
Mind the gap!
One would have reservations
Though not of the Michelin star kind
One would have to leave a golden throne to use a loo...outside!
Though not of the Michelin star kind
One would have to leave a golden throne to use a loo...outside!
You'd find her sipping coffee in Maccy Dees
Saving up loyalty stamps for a quarter pounder with cheese
Counting out coins with a familiar face staring back
Her engraved complexion like a free mirror on tap
She could be anyone's granny, your next door neighbour's nan
Yet no-one would believe that she ran an empire bigger than Japan!
Saving up loyalty stamps for a quarter pounder with cheese
Counting out coins with a familiar face staring back
Her engraved complexion like a free mirror on tap
She could be anyone's granny, your next door neighbour's nan
Yet no-one would believe that she ran an empire bigger than Japan!
Imagine year on year being the Christmas headliner
Blazed across TV screens
The nation glued to every word One has to say
And now One feels unseen standing in an alleyway!
Waving from One's horse-drawn carriage
As tourists greet you back is a red carpet away from
Waving to sell the next magazine
When passersby don't give a union jack!
Sharing her story of riches to rags
Begging for change on the nightbus
This is all part of Her Majesty's secret service
The mission? To see what it's like to be us!
Wouldn't we all think she'd gone insane?
Swapping Buckingham Palace for Big Issue sales on Brick Lane!
Giving up a royal address to live in our mess
Wouldn't that be a sight to see?
Swapping Buckingham Palace for Big Issue sales on Brick Lane!
Giving up a royal address to live in our mess
Wouldn't that be a sight to see?
To walk in our hole-filled shoes on the streets of empathy?
For a ruler of the land to understand where the people are coming from
One would need to go beyond merely cutting a ribbon and then be gone.
But to get up close to how people were really living and to change what was wrong.
This is what we call Upside Down Royalty
Inspired by The King that the Queen proudly serves
He shows what it really means to rule by experiencing people's hurts.
A King gets close to people's stories
Gives space to listen without fear
A King is present with everybody
And says 'I Am here'.
If He felt what you felt
When scornful faces looked away
If He smelt like you smelt
When you haven't had a proper shower for days
If royalty gave up riches to get up close
To know the hustle
To simply live and survive
And gave up their place to deliver a palace invite
Wouldn't you want to trade places in a flash?
Wouldn't you feel like you'd been listened to,
You'd won the lottery? Billions in cash!
All expenses paid, no strings attached?
Upside down royalty is more than an inheritance in a letter
When Jesus becomes King of hearts everyone is invited to be in His Royal family and friends forever.
An access all areas backstage pass to be treated like you were always meant to - first class!
The cost of no longer being strangers to becoming VIP
Was bought with the King's forfeit of His own royalty
He wore the crown of thorns so we could wear the crown of life.
Poverty. Powerlessness.
He's a King who knows what real life is really like.
He gave up heaven to become homeless so we could have a home.
He experienced being overlooked so we'd feel truly known.
When the famous King became unseen
God saved you and God Saved the Queen.
God saved you and God Saved the Queen.