CRITICS suggest that the outpouring of affection will be nothing more than a 'flash in the pan'.

Many surveys before the Golden Jubilee painted a depressing picture of apathy towards the Queen. One of the most damning, by MORI, found that 48 per cent of young people were more interested in the Simpsons than the royal family.

Roy Hattersley, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, said: "The whole idea of Golden Jubilee celebrations is out of date. It's part of the myth of England."

Before the weekend, many people held this view and seemed fed-up with the royal family's troubles of recent years.

Anti-royalist group Stuff the Monarchy decided it would stage stage an alternative jamboree on the strength of this feeling. It attracted many 'party people'.

Tim Richards of the group said: "Originally it was just to oppose the madness of the Jubilee, but so many people became interested we thought we would do something that would celebrate the people who are opposed to celebrating an outdated Anglo-German monarchy.

"It's as disrespectful as we could make it because we have no time for the English monarchy. They are a cultural anachronism."

Shaun Gratton, of Movement Against the Monarchy, believes that the Golden Jubilee celebrations will not conquer apathy towards the monarchy harboured by the vast majority of people.

He said: "I think the public have become fed up with the whole of the royal family.

"People are to comfortable with their lives and surrounded by their possessions."

He said such apathy meant people did not participate in joining them in protesting, so it looked like the whole of the country was celebrating.

The Sex Pistols, who famously reached number one during the Silver Jubilee with God Save the Queen, re-released the record.

It reached only number 15 this time and singer Johnny Rotten still believes that people are against the monarchy. He said: "Get rid of a few of the useless ones and keep the goodies."

Anarchic chart-toppers Chumbawamba, who feature four members from Burnley, brought out a free anti-Jubilee single to commemorate the occasion.

The track, called Majesty, lasted about 90 seconds and was packed with anti-royalist lyrics.

Band member Alice Nutter said the public's faith in the monarchy had not been restored by recent events. "It's just that now the public realises that the royals are using spin just like everyone else," she said.

"If you really want to celebrate what's great about British culture, then you should be celebrating the advent of 'punk rock' 25 years ago."

Claire Rayner, agony aunt, writer and broadcaster, said: "I have nothing against the Windsors but the sort of person I would love as a head of state would be a poet, an artist or a great scientist."