Queen Elizabeth Delivers Diamond Jubilee Speech to Parliament - ABC News ABC News Queen Elizabeth Delivers Diamond Jubilee Speech to Parliament March 20, 2012 via GOOD MORNING AMERICA Britain's second-longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II , praised the British virtues of "resilience, ingenuity and tolerance" and vowed to rededicate herself to the service of her country in a speech today before Parliament to mark her 60 years on the throne . In the landmark address to both Houses of Parliament, the 85-year-old queen also made an uncharacteristically personal statement in praise of her husband, Prince Philip , for standing by her side. "Prince Philip is, I believe, well known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide," she said. "During these years as your queen, the support of my family has, across the generations, been beyond measure." PHOTOS: Queen Elizabeth's 60 Years On the Throne The 90-year-old prince, whom the queen wed in 1947, underwent a health scare late last year when he was hospitalized for emergency heart surgery that caused him to miss the traditional Christmas festivities with the royal family.

Philip was by the queen's side today, however, and on Feb. 6, the day she officially took over the throne 60 years ago as a 25-year-old after her father, George VI, died. The queen joins an elite club in reaching the 60-year, or Diamond Jubilee, milestone. Only Queen Victoria served longer, 63 years in all, a feat Queen Elizabeth noted in her speech today. "So, in an era when the regular, worthy rhythm of life is less eye-catching than doing something extraordinary, I am reassured that I am merely the second sovereign to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee," she said. Today's speech by the queen was only the sixth address she has delivered to both Houses of Parliament in her six decades of rule. She gave similar speeches in celebration of her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Silver Jubilee 25 years earlier in 1977, according to the BBC . Read More: Princes William and Harry Dish on the 'Real' Queen Among the 400 guests in attendance at today's speech were Prime Minister David Cameron, members of his Cabinet, former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and Labor leader Ed Miliband.

"I have been privileged to witness some of that history and, with the support of my family, rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come," the queen told those gathered, echoing the vow of service she made on Ascension Day in February. The queen eschewed the traditional robes and gowns befitting such a historical event and instead opted for her signature look, a matching coat, dress and hat, this time in buttercup yellow. She did deliver the address in the ancient Westminster Hall, a historical setting she reflected on in her remarks. "We are reminded here of our past, of the continuity of our national story and the virtues of resilience, ingenuity and tolerance which created it," she said. The queen was gifted a Diamond Jubilee window from the members of both Houses during the event to mark her 60-year reign. The stained-glass window will be installed above the North Door of Westminster Hall later this year, the BBC reports.

Celebrations of her Diamond Jubilee are reaching a peak this month as the queen and Prince Philip tour England and other members of the royal family - most visibly Prince Harry , Kate Middleton and Prince Charles - travel around the world to take part in ceremonies and events honoring the queen. The main event, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee weekend , will be held in June and feature a star-studded concert and boat pageant on the Thames river with a 1,000-strong flotilla. The Associated Press contributed to this report. BBC - iWonder - Queen Elizabeth II: Britain’s longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II: Britain’s longest reigning monarch 21 April 1926 Presented byProfessor Kate WilliamsRoyal historian Constant Queen As the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has seen Britain change dramatically over the years. Yet she has remained a constant presence in the lives of the people of the UK and Commonwealth. Duty and family are very important to her. As a child during the Second World War she inspired the nation. The lessons she learned during these formative years helped her ensure the Royal Family remains a symbol of tradition in the 21st Century.

21 April 1926 You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr discusses Princess Elizabeth's family and early life. The Diamond Queen (BBC One, 2012). Princess Elizabeth was born in 1926. Her father Albert – Bertie to family – was George V's second eldest son and did not expect one day to be king. Elizabeth's mother and father took their royal duties seriously. Though loving parents, they kept with the tradition of not taking their children on royal tours. They left the baby Elizabeth behind when they embarked on a six-month tour of Australia. It was duty first for the young Royal Family. [She’s] a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant. Winston Churchill, 1928 A growing family Princess Elizabeth and her mother, Queen Elizabeth, with baby Princess Margaret. Elizabeth was four when her sister Margaret was born. The family lived at 145 Piccadilly and the two girls were educated at home. The young Princess Elizabeth – called Lilibet by her family – often visited her grandfather King George V at his home, Buckingham Palace.

They were close, and on one occasion the press attributed George's recovery from a serious illness to spirit-raising visits from his young granddaughter. [she’s] a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved. Margaret Rhodes, Elizabeth’s cousin 1936 The Year of Three Kings You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr explains how Princess Elizabeth became heir to the throne in 1936. The Diamond Queen (BBC One, 2012). Elizabeth's life changed forever when King George V died to be succeeded to the throne by her uncle Edward who then abdicated shortly afterwards. Elizabeth's father became King George VI, and the young princess first in line to the throne. The family had to move from their home in Piccadilly to Buckingham Palace. George V had disapproved of his eldest son Edward, and hoped that Elizabeth would one day be Queen. George VI has been described as a reluctant king.

The day before he accepted the throne he wrote in his diary "I broke down and sobbed like a child." I pray to God that my eldest son [Edward] will never marry and have children, and that nothing will come between Bertie and Lilibet and the throne. King George V confiding to a courtier in 1935. 13 October 1940 Elizabeth's broadcast to the children You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Princess Elizabeth delivers her first radio speech at age 14. BBC Radio (1940). During World War Two Princess Elizabeth did her part to boost public morale. In 1940 she made a broadcast to Britain's children. Taking on solemn duties at an early age had a profound effect on her. She made public appearances on her own, representing her father the King. She also served in the auxiliary territorial service, a role she was keen to take up in order to make a contribution to the war effort. During the war years she was also in correspondence with a young naval officer, Philip of Denmark and Greece. Celebrating VE Day amongst the people Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret mingled anonymously with crowds outside Buckingham Palace.

On the day the war ended in Europe, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret mingled anonymously with the crowds outside the palace. Elizabeth convinced her parents to let her and Margaret join the VE day celebrations. Elizabeth was wary of being recognised but later said it was one of the most memorable nights of her life. This was a rare moment when she was able to join the public – her subjects to be – which would eventually be impossible for her. World War Two cemented cemented two principles the Queen would support for the rest of her reign: a commitment to the Commonwealth, and the importance of remembrance. I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief. Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting on VE day in a BBC interview in 1985 1947 Elizabeth's first tour abroad Princess Elizabeth playing deck games on board a Royal Navy ship. On her 21st birthday Elizabeth went on an official tour of South Africa, delivering a speech dedicating herself to the service of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth's father King George VI was suffering from poor health.

Elizabeth continued to take on royal duties, and over the next few years she played a greater public role as her father's health declined. She had her own private secretary and was given access to Foreign Office telegrams, which arrived in boxes dedicated to her and read daily parliamentary reports. I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to … the service of our great imperial family. Princess Elizabeth in her speech in South Africa, 1947 20 November 1947 A royal wedding You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. The Queen marries Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey. How Princess Elizabeth met her Prince (BBC One, 2006). Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten were married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. She wore a dress she'd paid for with ration tokens. Although Elizabeth and Philip were in love, the young princess’s husband was a controversial choice. He was foreign born, with no financial standing and no kingdom. He had sisters married to Nazis, who were not invited to the wedding. Philip gave up his Greek and Danish titles and changed his religion to marry Elizabeth.

Now married for over 65 years, the Queen has had the longest marriage of any UK monarch. [The wedding is] a flash of colour on the hard road we have to travel. Winston Churchill, responding to suggestions that the postwar wedding should be austere. 1948 Elizabeth becomes Queen You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. The broadcast made by the BBC on the King's death. An Unforgettable Coronation (BBC One, 2003). King George VI had been in poor health for years. For some time Elizabeth's secretary had been carrying accession papers for use when the King died. The King passed away while Elizabeth was touring Kenya. The young princess became Queen while visiting a treetop hotel. One of her aides told Prince Philip the news. Philip looked "as if the world had been dropped on him." Philip then told the new Queen of her father's death. The next day Elizabeth requested no photographs be taken, though one journalist said he could feel her sadness as she passed and waved to them. International stateswoman You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. 20 years after World War Two, the Queen pledged support for West Berlin and received rapturous applause.

The Queen in Germany (BBC One, 2006). By 1965, the Queen had reigned for over a decade and made frequent overseas visits. She had also given birth to two further sons: Edward and Andrew. At home and abroad, the Queen had to maintain political neutrality, but she was making her own mark on the role of monarch. She made a number of historic visits, including the first to Berlin of a British monarch since before World War One. She also delivered a speech at the United Nations in New York, representing the UK and the Commonwealth. Ensuring the unity of the Commonwealth has been an enduring passion for her. God save the Queen, she ain’t no human being. God Save the Queen, the Sex Pistols 1981 Queen under threat The Queen, riding side saddle on her horse Burmese during Trooping the Colour, moments before the attack. A man fired six shots at the Queen while she was riding down The Mall. The shots turned out to be blanks. Though shaken, the Queen retained control over her horse. The man, Marcus Serjeant, was tried and sentenced to five years in prison under the treason act.

This attack came the month before Charles and Diana's wedding, so royal security was stepped up in preparation. The following year, another man broke into the Queen's bedroom in a startling breach of security at Buckingham Palace. She has indeed 'the heart and stomach of a man'... She loves her duty and means to be a Queen. Harold MacMillan, prime minister 1957-63 Around this time… Elizabeth's annus horribilis You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr looks at the events that made 1992 a bad year for the Queen. The Queen at 80 (BBC One, 2006). The Queen called 1992 her Annus horribilis ‒ horrible year ‒ in a speech made after a series of unpleasant events. The marriages of two of her children, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, broke down. A best-selling book was published detailing Princess Diana's unhappiness and collapsing marriage. There was also a large and damaging fire at Windsor Castle, the Queen’s private home. Public support for the Royal Family dipped, though the Queen remained dignified and constant figure.

Princess Diana dies You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. John Simpson reports on the return of the Queen to Buckingham Palace after Diana's death. BBC News (BBC One, 1997). Princess Diana died in an accident in 1997. Amid the mourning, the Queen faced a critical dilemma. Initially, the Royal Family grieved privately. However, the public reaction to Diana's death led to accusations the Queen was unresponsive and out of touch with the public mood. A Daily Express headline declared, ‘Show Us You Care.’ That evening, the Queen made a broadcast paying tribute to Diana as an "exceptional and gifted human being". The swell of anger had shocked the Queen and she admitted there were "lessons to be drawn from her life and the extraordinary public reaction to her death". Death of her mother and sister You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Golden Jubilee party at the Palace. The Royal Year with Jennie Bond (BBC One, 2002). Fifty years after her father's death, both the Queen's mother and sister died within two months of each other. However, popular support for the Queen was increasing after the difficult 1990s.

Throughout her reign, the Queen represented continuity and surety, though she accepted the monarchy must attempt to renew itself. She undertook a 40,000-mile tour of the Commonwealth. She said her own "association with the Commonwealth has taught me that the most important contact between nations is usually contact between its peoples." Change has become a constant, managing it has become an expanding discipline. Queen Elizabeth II, Golden Jubilee speech to the Houses of Parliament, 2002 2012 The Olympics and a Diamond Jubilee You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Andrew Marr summarises the Queen's Diamond year. A Diamond Queen (BBC One, 2012). In a year of celebration the Queen joined the Olympic opening ceremony, appearing in a James Bond spoof in her first acting role. In the same year she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, only the second achieved by a British monarch. She did not travel the world for this celebration. Instead her children and grandchildren made trips on her behalf. The Queen chose to tour the UK over several months. In 2012 her approval rating hit 90% – the highest it had been since she came to the throne in 1952.

Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s longest reigning monarch The Queen attending a ceremony for ANZAC day at the cenotaph in 2015. On 9 September 2015 Elizabeth II overtook Victoria to become Britain’s longest reigning monarch. By this point she had been Queen to twelve Prime Ministers, and still met David Cameron weekly to receive reports on his government and to offer her counsel and advice. In 2013, the law was changed so the monarch’s eldest born child has the right to the throne, rather than the eldest boy. It is fitting that this occurred during the rule of Elizabeth II, our longest reigning and perhaps most successful monarch in history. Queens Jubilee | Britroyals The Queen's Diamond Jubilee June 2013 - The 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, nearly eighteen months after she succeeded her father, King George VI. The 60th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation was marked with a service of celebration at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday 4th June 2013 at 11am.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and other Members of the Royal Family attended the service. Foreign dignitaries from the Commonwealth and other nations were among those joining the Royal Family as guests In addition to the main service, Westminster Abbey hosted a series of special events to celebrate the anniversary. Westminster Abbey is the nation’s coronation church. 38 coronations have been held in the Abbey since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066. Edward I (1272-1307) ordered the construction of the Coronation Chair. Since the fourteenth century almost every monarch has been crowned in this chair. The exceptions are Edward V and Edward VIII, who were not crowned, and Mary II who was crowned as joint monarch alongside her husband William III in a replica chair (now in the Abbey’s museum) made for the occasion. Other celebrations included a four-day festival at Buckingham Palace Gardens in July. Coronation Festival The Coronation Festival, which took place over four days 11 -14 July 2013 in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace, celebrated the 60th anniversary of The Queen's Coronation.

This unique event, hosted by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, brought together over 200 companies who hold Royal Warrants of Appointment. Promoting the very best of UK plc, the Festival will celebrate innovation, excellence and industry through trade and craft. The Festival was open to members of the public who purchased a ticket for the daytime event; giving visitors the opportunity to explore the Gardens and buy, sample and experience the wide range of products and services from the exhibitors. There was also a Gala evening of entertainment - a celebration of music and dance over the past 60 years Coronation Exhibition - Buckingham Palace Saturday, 27 July 2013 to Sunday, 29 September 2013 The summer marked the 60th anniversary of one of the most momentous occasions in 20th-century British history – the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To mark the anniversary of the event, a major exhibition for the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace brought together for the first time since Coronation Day, a spectacular array of dress, uniform and robes worn by the principal royal party. Works of art, paintings and objects used on the day were also on display to recreate the atmosphere of that extraordinary occasion.

Portraits of a Monarch - Windsor Castle Friday, 23 November 2012 to Sunday, 09 June 2013 Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most depicted women in the world. She has sat to numerous artists, from Cecil Beaton and Pietro Annigoni to Lucian Freud. Her portrait likeness, so widely circulated, has also inspired artists such as Andy Warhol, whose screenprint portraits of Her Majesty have been recently acquired for the Royal Collection and are displayed for the first time at Windsor Castle. Portraits of The Queen are made for a number of official purposes, ranging from photographs distributed at the time of a State Visit, to those that mark a particular anniversary. Portraits bearing a clear and recognisable image of the sovereign are required for use on coins, banknotes and stamps. Many of the works on display were created with one of these purposes in mind. This exhibition presented a selection of official, commissioned and formal portraits of The Queen, gathered here from the different Royal residences. Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond (60th) Jubilee Celebrations 2012 marked the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

She became Queen when her father, King George VI , died on 6th February, 1952. Princess Elizabeth was 25 years old and she and her husband Prince Philip were on safari in Kenya when news of her father's death reached her. She returned home as Queen Elizabeth II. Her coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977, Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002, and 2012 marked the Diamond 60th Jubilee of her reign. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who celebrated the 60th year of her reign in 1897. Kings and Queens by length of reign . To mark this historic occasion special events took place during 2012 throughout the UK and the Commonwealth Realms (countries in which she is Head of State), and in many Commonwealth Nations.

Visits around the UK The Queen, accompanied by her husband The Duke of Edinburgh, marked the Diamond Jubilee with visits and engagements throughout the United Kingdom.The programme included: 29th March 2012: North London 26th - 27th April Wales 1st - 2nd May: South West England 15th May: South London 16th - 17th May: North West England 2nd - 5th June: Central Weekend 13th - 14th June: East Midlands and East Anglia 25th June and 25th July: South East England 2nd - 6th July: Scotland (Holyrood Week) 11th - 12th July: West Midlands 18th - 19th July: North East England On 27th July The Queen opened the London 2012 Olympic Games. Even James Bond was invited.

Diamond Jubilee Week - 2nd to 5th June 2012 Official celebrations for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee took place in a special Diamond Jubilee week between Saturday 2nd June and Tuesday 5th June 2012. Saturday 2nd June: The Queen attended the Epsom Derby. She is a keen horse racing fan and has been attending the Epsom Derby for eight decades. Sunday 3rd June: The Big Jubilee Lunch. People shared lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Monday 4th June: A televised Diamond Jubilee Concert held at Buckingham Palace, with tickets available to UK residents by public ballot. Monday 4th June: 2,012 beacons were lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. Tuesday 5th June: A Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession. The service took place at St Paul’s Cathedral, with a formal carriage procession by The Queen. Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant took place on Sunday 3rd June 2012.

The Pageant was one of the main celebrations being held to mark the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. 1,000 boats, from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world, sailed down the River Thames. The Queen led the flotilla in the Royal Barge reviving a tradition that dates back over 400 years. Despite pouring rain the organisers created a piece of theatre on the water, incorporating music, fireworks and special effects. The Royal Barge decorated in red and gold and featuring The Queen’s cipher and a crown carried The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, along with other members of the Royal Family. The Prince of Wales was Patron of the Pageant. Commonwealth Day 12th March 2012 Her Majesty The Queen attended Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey to celebrate Her Diamond Jubilee and 60 years as Head of the Commonwealth. It was attended by the Prime Minister, High Commissioners and over 1,000 UK school children. Visits to the Realms and Commonwealth countries Members of the Royal Family traveled overseas representing the Queen throughout the Diamond Jubilee year, visited every Realm as well as visits to Commonwealth countries, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories.

These visits included: The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (Prince Charles and Camilla) visited: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea The Prince of Wales: Channel Islands, Isle of Man The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Catherine): Malaysia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. The tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu last had a royal visit in 1982 when the Queen and her husband Prince Philip were carried shoulder high by islanders into the capital Funafuti. Prince Harry: Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas The Duke of York (Prince Andrew): India The Earl and Countess of Wessex (Prince Edward and Sophie) : Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Gibraltar, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago The Princess Royal (Princess Anne): Mozambique, Zambia The Duke of Gloucester (The Queen's cousin): British Virgin Islands, Malta The Duke of Kent: (The Queen's cousin): Falkland Islands, Uganda.

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Emblem A national competition to design an “official emblem” for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012 attracted over 35,000 entries from school children aged between 6 and 14. The overall winner of the competition, which was supported by Buckingham Palace and promoted through the BBC’s Blue Peter Programme, was 10 year old Katherine Dewar from Chester. Katherine, along with the winners and runners up from each age category, was invited to meet the Queen at a special reception at Buckingham Palace. Blue Peter, commenting on the The BBC Blue Peter website said: “We’ve never had a competition like this! This is only the second ever Diamond Jubilee, and a child has never designed an official Jubilee emblem before". Commemorative coins and stamps, as well as teaching materials linked the 60th anniversary, will be available. Time Capsule The Royal Commonwealth Society organised a special Jubilee Time Capsule, a digital archive of The Queen’s reign. Contributors were invited to use photos, words or videos and talk about anything they wanted.

Exhibitions There were special Royal Collection exhibitions at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and a touring exhibition to five UK venues marking Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the National Portrait Gallery staged a touring exhibition bringing together sixty of the most remarkable and resonant images of Elizabeth II. This was the first National Portrait Gallery exhibition to tour to British venues before being shown in London, opening in Edinburgh in June, Belfast in October and Cardiff and London in February 2012. The National Maritime Museum held a Royal River, Power, Pageantry and & The Thames exhibition. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in United Kingdom Home Calendar Holidays United Kingdom The Queen's Diamond Jubilee The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in United Kingdom Tuesday, June 5, 2012, was a bank holiday to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by members of her family on a Buckingham Palace balcony in June 2015. Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by members of her family on a Buckingham Palace balcony in June 2015. ©iStockphoto.com/cheekylorns What Do People Do?

Moreover, the late May bank holiday was moved to Monday, June 4, 2012, giving people across the UK a four-day long weekend. Many people had a day off work or school to celebrate the bank holiday on June 5, 2012. The celebrations of the Queen’s 60-year reign included: A Diamond Jubilee Medal was commissioned. A UK-wide competition for towns to bid for city status. Royal Borough status was granted to Greenwich, which has a long-standing association with the Windsor family. Buckingham Palace organized many events centered on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, while the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) coordinated government-led activities in celebrating this special occasion. Public Life Government offices, schools, post offices and most businesses are closed on UK bank holidays. Background Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) and 15 other Commonwealth realms. She is the daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Born in 1926 in London, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was named after her mother, while her two middle names are those of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, and her paternal grandmother, Queen Mary.

She is the great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria (1819–1901). Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837, is the only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, in 1897. Wartime Wedding Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten–now Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh–at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The event was simple, as Britain was still recovering from World War II. The Queen came to the throne on February 6, 1952, and her coronation took place on June 2, 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977 (25 years on the throne) and her Golden Jubilee in 2002 (50 years on the throne). In 2002, she visited 70 cities and towns in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland over 38 days from May to August. People all over the world held street parties, garden parties, and other events to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

The Queen and Prince Philip have four children, with Prince Charles–now the Prince of Wales–as heir apparent to the throne. Symbols British flags, stamps, and coins all represent the Crown in different ways. The most notable symbols of the monarchy in the UK are the Crown Jewels and Regalia, the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) and the Principality of Wales. Other symbols include the Great Seal and the monarch’s personal emblems such as the Royal Standard and Coats of Arms. Buildings such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse are also seen to represent the monarchy in the UK. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Observances The Queen's Diamond Jubilee was only observed in the year 2012. Weekday 86 Surprising Facts About Queen Elizabeth II - Diamond Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II of England - TIME 86 Surprising Facts About Queen Elizabeth II By Anoosh ChakelianWednesday, May 23, 2012 Sean Dempsey / Reuters 1. She speaks fluent French and often uses the language for audiences and state visits. She does not require an interpreter. 2.

The Queen has received over 3.5 million items of correspondence during her reign. 3. Since 1952, she has conferred over 404,500 honors and awards. 4. Elizabeth has personally held 610 investitures. An investiture is the ceremony in which an honor is bestowed on someone for their good services; the recognitions are published twice a year, in the Queen's Birthday Honors and New Year's Honors lists. 5. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's 40th monarch since William the Conqueror was crowned. (Get TIME's new book The Royal Family: The House of Windsor, Past, Present and Future) 6. In 2002, at 76, Elizabeth became the oldest monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee. The youngest was James I (James VI of Scotland), at age 51. 7. About 1.5 million people have attended garden parties at Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland since Elizabeth has been on the throne. 8.

Over the course of her reign, she has given regular Tuesday-evening audiences to 12 British Prime Ministers: Winston Churchill, 195155; Sir Anthony Eden, 195557; Harold Macmillan, 195763; Sir Alec Douglas-Home, 196364; Harold Wilson, 196470 and 197476; Edward Heath, 197074; James Callaghan, 197679; Margaret Thatcher, 197990; John Major, 199097; Tony Blair, 19972007; Gordon Brown, 20072010; and David Cameron, 2010-present. 9. There have been 12 U.S. Presidents during her reign. 10. Tony Blair is the first Prime Minister to have been born during her reign. He was born in early May 1953, a month before her coronation. 11.

The Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, introduced small, informal luncheon parties at Buckingham Palace to meet distinguished people from all professions, trades and vocations. The first was held on May 11, 1956, and the tradition continues to this day. There are usually six to eight guests and two members of the royal household in attendance. 12. Elizabeth is patron of more than 600 charities and organizations. 13. In the past 60 years, the Queen has undertaken 261 official overseas visits, including 96 state visits, to 116 different countries. 14. In 2005, she claimed ownership of 88 cygnets (young swans) on the River Thames. They are looked after by a swan marker. The first royal swan keeper was appointed around the 12th century. 15. Technically, the Queen still owns the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters around the U.K. A statute from 1324, during the reign of King Edward II, states, "Also the King shall have ...

whales and sturgeons taken in the sea or elsewhere within the realm." This statute is still valid today, and sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins are recognized as "fishes royal": when they are captured within 3 miles (about 5 km) of U.K. shores or wash ashore, they may be claimed on behalf of the Crown. Generally, when brought into port, a sturgeon is sold in the usual way, and the purchaser, as a gesture of loyalty, requests the honor of its being accepted by Elizabeth. (PHOTOS: Extraordinary Images of the Queen from the National Portrait Gallery) 16. In the summer of 2005, she opened the first children's trail in the Buckingham Palace garden for its seasonal opening. 17. The Queen joined Facebook in November 2010, with a page called the British Monarchy, which features royal news, photos, videos and speeches. However, it is not possible to poke the royal family. She joined Twitter in July 2009, with teams at Buckingham Palace tweeting daily updates. None of the royals themselves tweet.

The page follows only one other Twitter account: Clarence House, the royal home of the Prince of Wales. 18. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's first televised festive address, a YouTube channel for the royal family, called the Royal Channel, was launched in December 2007. At the time, the palace hoped it would make her annual speech "more accessible to younger people and those in other countries." 19. Elizabeth was the first British monarch to celebrate her diamond wedding anniversary. 20. The Queen is the only person in Britain who can drive without a license or number plate on her state car. 21. Many of Elizabeth's official tours were undertaken on the royal yacht Britannia. It was launched by the Queen on April 16, 1953, and was commissioned for service on Jan. 7, 1954. It was decommissioned in December 1997. During that time, Britannia traveled more than 1 million miles (1.6 million km) on royal and official duties. 22.

Britannia was first used by Elizabeth when she embarked from Tobruk, Libya, with the Duke of Edinburgh on May 1, 1954, for the final stage of their Commonwealth tour returning to the Pool of London. The last time Elizabeth was onboard for an official visit was on Aug. 9, 1997, for a visit to Arran, Scotland. 23. Elizabeth has visited Australia 16 times, Canada 22 times, Jamaica six times and New Zealand 10 times. 24. Since her accession to the throne in 1952, she has visited Edinburgh nearly every year, taking up residence in the Palace of Holyroodhouse during Holyrood Week, when the Queen and her husband undertake a variety of engagements in Scotland to celebrate the country's heritage. 25. During her reign, the Queen has received many unusual gifts, including a variety of live animals. The more unusual ones have been placed in the care of the London Zoo  among them jaguars and sloths from Brazil and two black beavers from Canada. There have also been gifts of pineapples, eggs, a box of snail shells, a grove of maple trees and 15 lb.

(7 kg) of prawns. 26. Elizabeth has sent more than 175,000 telegrams to centenarians in the U.K. and the Commonwealth. 27. She has sent more than 540,000 telegrams to couples in the U.K. and the Commonwealth celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary. 28. Her real birthday is April 21, but it is celebrated officially in June. 29. She has attended 35 Royal Variety Performances. 30. In an average year, the Queen hosts more than 50,000 people at banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and garden parties at Buckingham Palace. 31. There have been six Roman Catholic Popes during the Queen's reign (Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II and Benedict XVI). 32. She has launched 23 ships in her lifetime. The first was the H.M.S. Vanguard, which she launched as Princess Elizabeth on Nov. 30, 1944, in Clydebank, Scotland. Her first launch as Queen was of the Britannia, also from Clydebank. 33.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have sent over 37,500 Christmas cards during her reign. 34. She has given out approximately 90,000 Christmas puddings to staff, continuing the custom of King George V and King George VI. In addition, the Queen gives her entire staff gifts at Christmastime. 35. Every year she sends Christmas trees to Westminster Abbey, Wellington Barracks, St. Paul's Cathedral in London, St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Crathie Kirk and local schools and churches in the Sandringham area of England. (PHOTOS: Highlights of Queen Elizabeth's 60 Years on the Throne) 36. Elizabeth learned to drive in 1945, when she joined the women's branch of the British army. Both she and Winston Churchill's daughter were members of the group, which was called the Auxiliary Territorial Service. 37. She was a Girl Guide (1937), a Scouting movement for girls and a Sea Ranger (1943), a section of the Girl Guides focused on sailing. 38.

As Princess Elizabeth, she traveled in the London Underground subway system for the first time in May 1939, accompanied by her governess Marion Crawford and her sister Princess Margaret. 39. The Queen is a keen photographer and enjoys taking pictures of her family. The Duke of York is also a photography buff and has taken a number of photographs of Elizabeth, including an official photograph for Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee in 2002. 40. The Queen was born in a private home at 17 Bruton St., London, on April 21, 1926. (The house was owned by the Queen's first cousins.) She was baptized on May 29, 1926, in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace and was confirmed on March 28, 1942, in the private chapel at Windsor Castle. 41. With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, Elizabeth became the first reigning sovereign to have a child since Queen Victoria, who had her youngest child, Princess Beatrice, in 1857. 42. Elizabeth has 30 godchildren. 43.

The first soccer match the Queen attended was the 1953 FA Cup final. 44. She has taken the royal salute from her Household Cavalry  mounted troops known as horse guards  in every Trooping the Color ceremony since the start of her reign, with the exception of 1955, when a national rail strike forced the cancellation of the parade. Trooping the Color is a ceremony performed by British and Commonwealth regiments to celebrate the Queen's official birthday. 45. The Queen has sat for 129 official portraits during her reign, two of which were with the Duke of Edinburgh. The most recent portrait was by Isobel Peachey and was unveiled in September 2010. Elizabeth was just 7 years old when she sat for her first portrait in 1933, which was commissioned by her mother and painted by the Hungarian artist Philip Alexius de Laszlo. 46. In 2003, she sat for her first and only hologram portrait, which is made up of more than 10,000 images of the Queen layered over one another, giving it a 3-D effect. 47.

The first royal walkabout took place during the Queen's visit with Prince Philip to Australia and New Zealand in 1970. The practice was introduced to allow them to meet a greater number of people, not just officials and dignitaries. 48. In 1969, the first television film about the family life of the royals was made; it was shown on the eve of the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales. 49. An important innovation during her reign was the opening in 1962 of a new gallery at Buckingham Palace to display items from the royal collection. The brainchild of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen's Gallery occupied the palace's bomb-damaged private chapel. It was the first time that parts of the palace had been opened to the general public. 50. The only time the Queen has had to interrupt an overseas tour was in 1974, during a tour of Australia and Indonesia. She was called back from Australia when a general election was announced suddenly. The Duke of Edinburgh continued the program in Australia, and Elizabeth rejoined the tour in Indonesia. 51.

She has opened Parliament every year except 1959 and 1963, when she was expecting her children Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, respectively. 52. She went on her first state visit as Princess Elizabeth to South Africa with her mother and father, then King and Queen, from February to May 1947. The tour included Zimbabwe, Bechuanaland, Swaziland and Basutoland (now Lesotho). The Princess celebrated her 21st birthday in Cape Town. Her first state visit as Queen was to Kenya: her father King George VI died, and she acceded the throne during the tour, which had to be abandoned. 53. Her first Commonwealth tour began on Nov. 24, 1953, and included visits to Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, the Cocos Islands, Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar. The total distance covered was 43,618 miles (70,196 km). 54. In 1986, the Queen became the first British monarch to visit China. 55.

She has made a Christmas broadcast to the Commonwealth every year of her reign except 1969, when a repeat of the film Royal Family was shown and a written message from the Queen issued. In 1953, she made her first Christmas broadcast from overseas, broadcasting live from New Zealand. Her first televised broadcast was in 1957, made live. Her first prerecorded broadcast took place in 1960, allowing transmission around the world. 56. She sent a message of congratulations to Apollo 11 astronauts for the first moon landing on July 21, 1969. The message was microfilmed and deposited on the moon in a metal container. 57. The Queen has met at Buckingham Palace the first man in space, Russian major Yuri Gagarin; the first woman in space, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova; and the first men on the moon, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, as well as their Apollo 11 colleague Michael Collins. 58. She sent her first e-mail in 1976, from a British army base. 59.

There have been six Archbishops of Canterbury during her reign: Geoffrey Fisher, Michael Ramsey, Donald Coggan, Robert Runcie, George Carey and Rowan Williams. 60. History was made in 1982 when Pope John Paul II visited Britain; he was the first Pope to do so in 450 years. Elizabeth, titular head of the Church of England, received him at Buckingham Palace. 61. She visited a mosque in the U.K. for the first time in July 2002, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. f 62. The Queen has attended 56 royal Maundy services (religious services on the day preceding Good Friday to honor the service of elderly people in their communities and the church) in 43 cathedrals during her reign. A total of 6,710 people have received Maundy money, coins minted especially for the occasion, in recognition of their service. Elizabeth has missed only four services  two for official tours and two for the births of Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. 63.

Elizabeth has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign, starting with Susan, who was a present for her 18th birthday in 1944. A good proportion of these have been direct descendants from Susan. Elizabeth currently has five corgis: Emma, Linnet, Monty, Holly and Willow. 64. Elizabeth introduced a new breed of dog known as the dorgi when one of her corgis was mated with a dachshund named Pipkin that belonged to Princess Margaret. Elizabeth currently has four dorgis: Cider, Berry, Candy and Vulcan. As well as corgis and dorgis, the Queen also breeds and trains Labradors and cocker spaniels at Sandringham House. A special Sandringham strain of black Labrador was founded in 1911. 65. She takes a keen interest in horses and racing. Her first pony, a Shetland called Peggy, was given to her by her grandfather King George V when she was 4 years old. Elizabeth continues to ride at Sandringham, Balmoral and Windsor. The Queen also takes interest in horse breeding.

Horses bred at the royal studs over the past 200 years have won virtually every major race in Britain. Elizabeth has about 25 horses in training each season. 66. Her racing colors consist of a purple body with gold braiding, scarlet sleeves and a black velvet cap with gold fringe. 67. She continues the royals' long association with racing pigeons, which began in 1886 when King Leopold II of Belgium made a gift of racing pigeons to the British royal family. In 1990, one of Elizabeth's birds took part in the Pau race, coming first in the Section 5th Open of the important international pigeon race, and was subsequently named Sandringham Lightning. In recognition of her interest in the sport, the Queen was named a patron of a number of racing societies, including the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. 68. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were married on Nov. 20, 1947, in Westminster Abbey.

Her wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell and was woven at Winterthur Silks Limited, Dunfermline, in the Canmore factory, with silk that had come from Chinese silkworms at Lullingstone Castle. 69. Her dressmakers over the years have included Sir Hardy Amies, Sir Norman Hartnell, Karl-Ludwig Couture and Maureen Rose. Her milliners have been Frederick Fox, Philip Somerville and Marie O'Regan. 70. Her wedding ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold that came from the Clogau St. David's mine near Dolgellau. Her official wedding cake was made by McVitie and Price Ltd., using ingredients given as a wedding gift by Australian Girl Guides. 71. The Queen has an extensive collection of jewelry, most of which are crown jewels, some inherited and some gifts, including the largest pink diamond in the world.

Some of her well-known pieces include a brooch of diamonds forming a spray of wattle that was presented by the Australian government in 1954 and a necklace of large square-cut aquamarines and diamonds with earrings, given as a gift in her coronation year by the ambassador of Brazil, which Elizabeth wore on her French state visit in 2004. 72. Elizabeth has laid a wreath at the Cenotaph  Britain's iconic war memorial that commemorates the dead in both world wars  on Remembrance Sunday every year of her reign, except in 1959, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1983 and 1999, when she was either pregnant or overseas on an official visit. 73. She has visited the sets of a number of popular British soap operas, including Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale. 74. In 1997, Buckingham Palace's first official website was launched. 75. In 1998, Elizabeth introduced theme days to promote and celebrate aspects of British culture. The first theme day was City Day, focusing on financial institutions.

Other themes have included Publishing, Broadcasting, Tourism, Emergency Services, Maritime, Music, Young Achievers, British Design and Pioneers. 76. In June 2002, to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, the Queen hosted the first public concerts in the garden of Buckingham Palace. She attended both the classical and pop concerts. The Party at the Palace show was one of the most-watched pop concerts in history, attracting about 200 million viewers from all over the world. 77. She is the first member of the royal family to be awarded a gold disc from the recording industry: 100,000 copies of the Party at the Palace CD, produced by EMI, were sold within its first week of release. 78. She hosted Buckingham Palace's first women-only event, "Women of Achievement," in March 2004. 79. In November 2004, Elizabeth invited the cast of Les Misérables in the West End to perform for then French President Jacques Chirac at Windsor Castle. It was the first time the cast of a West End musical had performed at a royal residence. 80.

As a young girl, Elizabeth acted in a number of pantomimes during World War II, including playing Prince Florizel in Cinderella in 1941. The productions took place every year in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle. 81. She once demoted a footman for giving her corgis whiskey. 82. She is supposedly the only British monarch in history properly trained to change a spark plug, as she undertook a car-maintenance course during World War II. 83. She collected clothing coupons for her wedding dress, true to the spirit of postwar austerity. 84. The Queen issued a writ against the Sun newspaper after it published the full text of her 1992 broadcast two days before its transmission. She later accepted an apology and a £200,000 donation to charity. 85.

Only three other world heads of state have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee during Elizabeth's reign: King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand celebrated 60 years on the throne in 2006; the former Sultan of Johor (now part of Malaysia) celebrated his in 1955; and Emperor Hirohito of Japan celebrated his in 1986. 86. The last and only other British monarch to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897, at the age of 77. At 86, Queen Elizabeth will be the oldest monarch to celebrate this occasion. For more on the royal family, visit: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Coin Details Released Diamond Jubilee Coin Details Released Posted by admin on Friday, August 19th, 2011 She came to the throne on 6th February 1952, and the country celebrated her coronation on 2nd June 1953. She’s the second longest serving monarch in Britain’s history and the second longest serving monarch alive today (the longest serving is saxophonist King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand ).

For nearly 60 years, Queen Elizabeth II has been the Head of State of Britain and its Commonwealth, and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. If she is still on the throne on 10th September 2015 she will become the longest serving Monarch of Britain, having passed the record set by Queen Victoria who was Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother. But first, she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, and the Royal Mint is to commemorate the event with a specially minted £5 coin. It had wanted to keep details of the coin secret until nearer its release, but due to the public availability of a government document which reveals some details about the new effigy it has been forced to allow stories about the new coin to be published immediately. Ian Rank-Broadley , a sculptor who has a history with the Mint that stretches back more than a decade, has designed the effigy. On the coins of the realm since 1998, it is his effigy of the Queen that appears on the obverse.

He also won the Royal Mint competition in 1998 for his design of the Queen Mother Centennial Crown, as well as being commissioned to design the Golden Jubilee coin in 2002 (see picture). Queen Elizabeth II 2002 golden jubilee coin. According to the government document, the obverse design is “inspired by the sculpture mounted in the entrance to the Supreme Court building on Parliament Square.” This sculpture is a bronze-bas relief, from a sitting with the Queen in 2006, and depicts her in garter robes. This effigy will be the fifth update Queen Elizabeth II on UK coins. However, the Royal Mint has stated that it will not be used to replace the current portrait, and will only be featured on the Diamond Jubilee coins. There will be six versions of the £5 coin struck. The circulated coin will be a copper-nickel coin, while the Mint will also strike coins in silver, gold-plated silver, piedfort silver, gold, and platinum. Each will be 38.608 millimeters in diameter.

The silver coin will be minted in .925 fine silver, and weigh 28.276 grams, and the double thickness piedfort will weigh 56.552 grams. The edge will be inscribed with “a vow made good” on the silver, gold, and platinum versions, while the copper-nickel and gold-plated silver coins will be reeded on their edges. The new coins will not be any use for deciding the team that kicks off at the 2012 Olympics Football Tournament, though. The reverse is to feature an adapted effigy from the first coins that were minted after Queen Elizabeth came to the throne. A coin flipper’s dream: a legal tender double headed coin. Share your thoughts

Question: In which year did Queen Elizabeth the Second celebrate her Golden Jubilee?
Answer: 2002