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Schools in Wales will instead only receive copies of the book if they decide to opt-in, a figure said to be around 3,000. These books have reportedly been translated into Welsh at the request of the Welsh Government.

A senior political source told Wales Online: “The Welsh Government insisted that the book was translated into Welsh, which was done. Perhaps they thought that wouldn’t happen. Then they said they were only prepared to let the book be distributed on an opt-in basis.

“Ministers in Westminster can’t understand what the problem is. The assumption had been that children throughout Wales would get a copy. That’s what was planned for.”

The Department for Education in England has awarded a contract to London-based DK Books to produce 211,000 bilingual copies of the book for schools in Wales.

The contract, worth almost £12million, sets out a list of requirements about what should be in the book:

• A description of the system of a constitutional monarchy in the UK;

• The role of the monarch: what it means and why it matters, and the Queen’s role as head of the Commonwealth;

• What the Platinum Jubilee is and why it is a significant milestone in the Queen’s reign, including the dates and times of other long-serving British monarchs;

• A narrative of the Queen’s 70-year reign, with key events, achievements and inventions.

Aberconwy Conservative MP Robin Millar raised the issue in the House of Commons, saying: “The UK Government has funded a book for every schoolchild in the UK, commemorating the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen. A bilingual version has been printed for schoolchildren in Wales. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that schoolchildren in Wales will receive a copy of that book?”

Wales Office Minister David Davies responded: “The Honourable Gentleman is correct. The UK Government wanted to celebrate the enormous achievement, the enormous commitment to public service that has been made by our monarch, and have produced this book bilingually to ensure that schoolchildren across Wales are able to read bilingually about the contribution that has been made by the Queen.

“I am sure they all look forward eagerly to receiving their copy, and the UK Government is working with the Welsh Government to ensure that can happen imminently.”

But a source said that after seeing the book, it was decided it would not be appropriate to distribute it to all pupils in Wales, but to leave it to schools to decide whether they wanted it.

It’s thought that the book is seen to be too Anglocentric and not in tune with a devolved UK where Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own governments. The Welsh Government does not go along with Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit “Global Britain” project, which has been criticised as jingoistic and a vehicle for imperial nostalgia.

Steph McGovern shares her thoughts on Queen's jubilee

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The Department for Education in England is producing the Platinum Jubilee book, which we understand the DfE plan to issue in September. The Welsh Government has no role in the production or distribution of the book.

“Education is a devolved matter. We have been clear that the book should be available in Welsh and English and schools only receive the book on an opt-in basis.”

There will be a four-day bank holiday weekend from Thursday June 2 to Sunday June 5 to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years of service.

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