'Clean for the Queen': It's only three days in, but 2016's most ridiculous campaign is already upon us

Come one, come all to Y2K16. A year which will see our fair Queeny turn 90.

What an achievement. What a pivotal moment in history. What. A. Time. To. Be. Alive.As per anything to do with the royals, expect parades, bunting and lots of telly coverage.Apparently, we don't need much of an excuse to throw a street party, but one campaign group is already planning a clean up of Britain's streets ahead of the likely festivities.

Clean for the Queen is an anti-litter initiative, calling on volunteers to pick up rubbish for the Queen's birthday in June this year.

When she came to the throne litter was not the problem that it is today. Food packaging, plastic bottles, takeaway meals and cigarette butts have all contributed to a growing menace that affects our wildlife, streets, countryside and sense of pride.

What better way could we show our gratitude to Her Majesty than to clean up our country?

• Clean for the Queen

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While no one disputes that litter is bad and cleaning up is good, some have (quite rightly?) highlighted the utter absurdity of the campaign.

In 2012, it came to light that cleaners at Buckingham Palace earned only £6.45 an hour, well under the then recommended London Living Wage of £7.85/hour.

A point which has not gone unacknowledged today: