Queen's Diamond Jubilee: The first since Queen Victoria - Telegraph The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Queen's Diamond Jubilee: The first since Queen Victoria The only other Diamond Jubilee celebrated by a British monarch was in 1897 in the reign of Queen Victoria. The only other Diamond Jubilee celebrated by a British monarch was in 1897 in the reign of Queen Victoria Photo: CAMERA PRESS/John Swannell 1:00PM GMT 06 Feb 2012 Comments Initially Victoria had hoped for a quiet commemoration following her popular Golden Jubilee 10 years earlier, but realised the people were intent on marking the occasion in style. Secretary of State for the Colonies Joseph Chamberlain suggested that the anniversary should be used to celebrate the British Empire and the Queen approved. It became a glittering celebration, with troops from across the Empire processing through the streets in her honour. The accession anniversary of June 20 1897 fell on a Sunday and was marked with special services around the country, with the Queen attending St George's Chapel, Windsor. Victoria, also Empress of India, entered the thanksgiving service on the arm of an Indian servant.

Related Articles A thoroughly modern monarch 06 Feb 2012 The following day, she returned to London to receive foreign envoys. There was also a Torchlight Military Tattoo in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. The official celebration of the Diamond Jubilee took place on Tuesday June 22 1897. In the morning, the Queen transmitted a telegram across the world with the personal message: "From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them." Before the age of television, the only way to watch the festivities was to head to London and thousands of people flocked to the streets to catch a glimpse of Victoria's grand procession. Sailors in boaters pulled gun carriages on ropes while guards in bearskin hats and tunics lined the roads. Among many others, the Indian Lancers in their turbans, the Jamaican Artillery and New Zealand Mounted Troops had travelled to take part in the parade, joined by the traditional Sovereign's Escort of the 2nd Life Guards.

Victoria, dressed in black silk with a black bonnet decorated with white ostrich feathers and diamonds, processed through London in a carriage to St Paul's Cathedral for a service, across London Bridge, through south London and back past Parliament to Buckingham Palace. She was moved by the experience, writing in her journal that night: "No-one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those six miles of streets... The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching. "The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with (real) joy." There was one mishap during the procession when the elderly Gold Stick, Lord Howe - tasked with protecting the sovereign - fainted, although he did remount to be greeted by cheers from the crowd, according to Debrett's look back at the commemoration. The thanksgiving service was held not inside, but outside St Paul's as the 78-year-old Queen, whose health was beginning to fail, could not manage the steps due to her rheumatism. Representatives from the then British Empire were in attendance and two choirs lined the steps of the cathedral for the short service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury embarked on a spontaneous three cheers for the Queen. Vanity Fair, published on June 24 1897, declared that the Jubilee Day had strengthened the bonds of the British Empire thanks to the welcome visiting premiers and troops were given. It added: "For in Her Majesty, as she sat in her magnificent carriage, amid all the splendour of her court, the glistening of gold, the shining of sabres and the pomp of cavalry, in her quiet simple dress, all of us recognised a grand example of humility, of patience, of long suffering - in a word, womanliness." London went all out with the decorations. One banner in the capital declared: "Queen of earthly Queens". Manchester put aside large sums of money to hold a breakfast party for 100,000 children, while in Newcastle enough was raised for a new hospital. In the evening on the official Jubilee Day, there was a grand dinner party at Buckingham Palace where the Queen's table was decorated with a 9ft high display of 60,000 orchids from every part of the then Empire, crafted into the shape of a crown.

There were also royal engagements all week long including a State Ball at the Palace and a mass Naval review at Spithead in Hampshire attended by the then Prince of Wales and involving 165 ships. Jubilee hymns were commissioned and society garden parties hosted by various Countesses, while a reception and ball was held by the Corporation of the City of London at the Guildhall. As part of the festivities, Alexandra, Princess of Wales, initiated a project to hold the biggest banquet in the world and feed some 400,000 of London's poor. She staged a series of vast Diamond Jubilee Feasts where everyone was welcome no matter what their background or what state their clothes were in. More than 700 tons of food was needed and 10,000 waiters with the meals backed by millionaire Sir Thomas Lipton. Diners ate roast ribs of beef and veal and ham pies, followed by dates, oranges and a drink of English ale or ginger beer and then pipes and tobacco. Victoria's reign is the longest in British history, with the current Queen's the second longest.

Queen Victoria died just three and a half years after her Diamond Jubilee in January 1901 at the age of 81. Queen Victoria and Britain's first Diamond Jubilee - BBC News BBC News Queen Victoria and Britain's first Diamond Jubilee By Andy Sully BBC News 22 May 2012 Close share panel Image caption The Queen's Jubilee procession was accompanied by a considerable display of imperial might As the nation prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II, we look at the last time we had a Diamond Jubilee - Queen Victoria's in 1897. While Victoria - like the present Queen - enjoyed her special year at a time when the monarchy was widely held in high esteem, there were profound differences in the way things were done then. In 1887, Victoria had been feted on her Golden Jubilee with huge nationwide festivities, which included several modern-style royal walkabouts.

The Diamond Jubilee (the first time the term had been used in the context of a 60th anniversary) saw an older, less robust Queen take something of a backseat in the lavish "Festival of the British Empire" proposed by Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain. Historian Prof Walter Arnstein said the whole idea of staging large public celebrations was still a novel concept to the British public of the day. "Britons hadn't seen themselves as very good at such things. It was the sort of thing that people in Napoleonic France or Russia had been associated with. "Queen Victoria herself didn't much care for the idea. She thought it was not altogether appropriate and had to be talked into it. "She enjoyed it in retrospect, but beforehand had made things quite difficult for [prime minister] Lord Salisbury at the planning stage." In 1897, it could be argued, the British Empire was at a high watermark. Victoria sat at the head of a realm of 450 million souls, stretched across every continent.

Since 1870, Britain had added Zanzibar, Fiji, Cyprus, Bechuanaland, Somaliland, Kenya, the New Hebrides, Rhodesia and Uganda to its fast-expanding colonies. The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching Queen Victoria talking about her Jubilee parade General Kitchener was well advanced in his successful campaign to re-establish what in effect amounted to British control of Sudan, and the embarrassing military defeats of the Boer War (1899-1902) had not yet deflated imperial prestige. However, Britain's economic rivals were biting at her economic heels. The United States had already overtaken Britain in terms of industrial output and Germany was not far behind. As an industrialist, Joseph Chamberlain promoted the importance of "opening up" the world to British goods. At a time when trade barriers were being put up all over Europe, a peaceful, growing empire seemed the best guarantor of that. So it was that Tuesday, 22 June - Jubilee Day - came to be celebrated not just throughout Britain but across the globe.

'Deeply touching' The day was declared a bank holiday in India as well as in Britain and Ireland. Among the many civic works erected, there were memorial fountains in the Seychelles as well as Manchester and municipal clock-towers in Penang, Malaysia, and Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as in Maidenhead and Chester. Image caption Victoria was at the head of an empire that ruled a quarter of the world's population The highlight of the day itself - a generally bright day in an appalling year for British weather - was a procession along six miles of London streets of the extended Royal Family and the leaders of the self-governing dominions and Indian states. The British Army and Royal Navy had their best and brightest on show - and the parade was accompanied by colonial forces from Canada, India, Africa and the Antipodes, all in their best dress uniforms. The diminutive Queen, dressed in her habitual mourning black (as well as Albert, she had lost two children and six grandchildren by 1897) was confined to her state coach by painful arthritis.

Her parade from Buckingham Palace, via Mansion House, past Parliament and then across Westminster Bridge before recrossing the Thames for a service at St Paul's Cathedral, was watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators, huddled beneath bunting and banners - one of which declared Victoria "Queen of earthly Queens". The 78-year-old monarch recorded: "No-one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those six miles of streets... The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching. "The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with joy." Free ale and tobacco The celebrations had been the subject of tense negotiations between the officials of the Royal Household who said they were anxious to avoid "the expenses incurred to the Privy Purse" of the Golden Jubilee. In the end, the costs were split. Image caption Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain was an enthusiastic imperialist Prof Arnstein says: "In 1897, Queen Victoria said, in effect: 'If you want a big affair, then get the government to foot the bill.'" But it wasn't just the high and mighty who celebrated.

The spirit of Victorian philanthropy was kept alive and well with street feasts laid on for 400,000 of London's poorest residents and 100,000 of Manchester's. Tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton sponsored the London event, which included free bottles of ale and pipe tobacco. The parties went on into the evening, with a chain of beacons lit across Britain; a series of civic festivities in the newly-created Jubilee cities of Nottingham, Bradford and Hull; fireworks displays; and the son et lumiere illumination of St Paul's for the first time. By order of the government, and to much disgust from the Temperance Movement, pubs remained open until 02:30. It is not recorded whether Victoria - who was known as Drina within royal circles - enjoyed the following day as much, which included a meeting with 10,000 schoolchildren on a rainy Constitution Hill followed by a civic reception in Slough. All the celebrations were very much focused on the empire, its success, its expansiveness and its seeming invincibility. Historian and writer Juliet Gardiner says: "The year could be seen as the apogee of British power...

once the Boer War started it was clear that we were a bit friendless in Europe." There were of course dissenters. James Connolly, the Edinburgh-born Irish nationalist, called the Jubilee a "feast of flunkeyism" and wrote: "Join your voice with ours in protesting against the base assumption that we owe to this empire any other debt than that of hatred of all its plundering institutions." But in mainland Great Britain - and in many of the colonies, such opinions were rare. Ms Gardiner adds: "Queen Victoria was held in great reverence by the nation. People simply couldn't imagine life without her on the throne. "Before her reign, the monarchy had been pretty unpopular overall. She could be said to have re-established the people's support for the monarchy." Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee | Cayman Compass Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee By Tweet on Twitter Dust off your party hat, string up the bunting and don your best fascinator. Cayman is getting geared up to mark 60 years of the Queen’s reign with a host of celebrations and events. Festivities will be centred around the upcoming long weekend, 2-4 June.

Here’s Weekender’s guide to some of the best events. History Royal Jubilees celebrate milestones in a Monarch’s reign. Celebrations of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and Golden Jubilee in 2002, included street parties, pageants and parades, as a well as a royal tour of the UK and Commonwealth. Indeed, her Diamond Jubilee is set to be celebrated in the same spirited fashion. The Queen isn’t the only British Monarch to celebrate a Jubilee. George III and Queen Victoria both celebrated Jubilees during their reigns. In 1897 Queen Victoria became the longest reigning monarch in British history when she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. In celebration, there was a grand and colourful Jubilee procession through London of Royalty and Military troops from all over the Empire. The Queen was born Princess Elizabeth of York on 21 April, 1926. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who were later crowned King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. At the time of her birth, Princess Elizabeth stood third in line of succession to the throne after Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and her father, The Duke of York.

But it was not expected that her father would become King, or that she would become Queen. However, Princess Elizabeth’s quiet family life came to an end in 1936, when her grandfather, King George V, died. His eldest son came to the throne as King Edward VIII, but, before the end of the year, King Edward VIII had decided to give up the throne in order to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson. Upon his abdication, Princess Elizabeth’s father acceded to the throne as King George VI. Princess Elizabeth was now first in line to the throne. A hat fit for a Queen The Queen is rarely seen without a charming hat perched on her head. Indeed, there has been growing enthusiasm for innovative headwear at social events and special occasions. So, what better reason than the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee to splash out on a beguiling piece of headwear? Local milliner Laura Anderton has been creating bespoke hats and fascinators for the past year, for special events both here in Cayman and overseas. She recently perfected her art, attending a training course with a milliner in Shropshire, England.

Laura currently works out of her home and it can take up to four days to complete just one hat. The process includes several fittings to ensure the hat is a perfect fit, as well as consultations to discuss design and embellishments. “I love what I do so much and feel very honoured that clients are trusting me to create something beautiful that hopefully will be admired, and more importantly, that they will enjoy wearing,” Laura said. To order your hat, call 916-7754. Flying the flag Over the next several weeks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Committee is requesting members of the public to put on a red, white and blue show of pride in the Cayman Islands. Leading up to and during the long weekend of festivities planned for early June, the committee is encouraging business-owners and residents to decorate their offices and properties with the Cayman Islands flag, the Union Flag or bunting in patriotic colours. “We hope this patriotic act will imprint in peoples’ minds that the Cayman Islands is proud of its monarch, and that we are honoured to be a part of this historic occasion,” said Mary Lawrence, committee chairperson.

0 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 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 - A Look Back at 60 Years | United Church of God United Church of God The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - A Look Back at 60 Years You are here UCG.org / The Good News / The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - A Look Back at 60 Years The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - A Look Back at 60 Years Posted on Jul 5, 2012 by Melvin Rhodes Estimated reading time: 14 minutes Login or Create an Account With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! Sign In | Sign Up × As Britain and the Commonwealth celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the festivities overshadow the dramatic changes that have taken place during the last 60 years. Julio Etchart/Demotix/Corbis The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - A Look Back at 60 Years I'm writing this from South Africa, where it all began on April 21, 1947.

The members of the British royal family were on a “thank you” tour of South Africa and southern Rhodesia, two nations that were part of the British Empire, both of which had contributed greatly to the war effort in World War II. Princess Elizabeth turned 21 on the tour while visiting Cape Town, from where she addressed the peoples of the empire and Commonwealth—these still all together after six years of war: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong” (quoted by Sally Bedell Smith, Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch, 2012, pp. 37-38). A deeply religious woman, Elizabeth would work to follow Christ's admonition, “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your servant” ( Matthew 20:26 Matthew 20:26But it shall not be so among you: but whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; American King James Version × ). Five years later, Elizabeth's father King George VI died and she became queen, ironically while on another visit to Africa.

At the time, she reigned over the greatest empire in history. Now, 60 years later, the monarchy endures, and Queen Elizabeth's subjects are celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in various parts of the world. Yet the empire is no more—one of the big changes during her reign, the true context of which is vital to understand. Surprising stability in a world of unrest The U.S. newsmagazine Time published a special commemorative issue on the royal family, which made the following observation: “Governments topple and institutions fail, but Britain's constitutional monarchy maintains its quiet popularity. As the indefatigable Queen celebrates 60 years on the throne, the House of Windsor looks secure, surprisingly so.” The stability of the British monarchy is amazing—more than 1,000 years of monarchy! The present political system has been in place since 1689, a stability and continuity that no other great power has come anywhere near achieving. That stability has also been shared by 15 other realms over which the queen is head of state, principally Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She is also head of the Commonwealth of Nations, a 54-country grouping of former British colonies.

Other countries notice this stability, especially nations which have seen a great deal of turmoil. In 1908 the queen's great-grandfather, King Edward VII, met with Russia's last czar, Nicholas II, a close relative, on the czar's yacht in Russian waters. It was to be 86 years before another British monarch visited Russia. In the interim, Russia had three revolutions, a prolonged civil war, famines, the Great Terror, and seven decades of communist rule. Commenting prior to the queen's historic visit to Russia in 1994, the Russian newspaper Izvestia made the following perceptive comment: “The monarchy is unshakeable. No matter what happens in the country, the British know that there is an institution that will survive any difficulty” (quoted by Smith, pp. 382-383). Great respect for the queen In Britain one finds little respect for those in government. In contrast there is a great deal of respect for the queen, who has devoted her life to their service—and continues to do so at age 86!

“The arguments against the monarchy as antidemocratic and backward-looking have been overwhelmed by the Queen's dependable and consistent presence—what David Airlie, her former Lord Chamberlain, calls 'the sheet anchor in the middle for people to hang on to in times of turbulence'” (Smith, p. 502). Britain today is greatly diminished from the country's position when Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne during Winston Churchill's peacetime administration. But the monarchy gives the country international influence it otherwise would not have. “'The Commonwealth is very much her legacy,' said Brian Mulroney [former Canadian prime minister]. 'For her it is a major achievement and platform.' Without the Queen's leadership and example, 'many of us would have left,' said Kenneth Kaunda, the former president of Zambia … Through her own sources of information, she came to know more about the issues and concerns of Commonwealth countries, particularly in Africa, than her government's top officials” (Smith, p. 495). She is also credited with encouraging member countries to restore democracy when they deviate into military or dictatorial rule.

Commenting on a G-20 summit of the world's most important leaders, Mulroney made this observation: “The Queen knows when she enters the room she is the most compelling head of state in the room. She is number one even though her country is not number one” (quoted by Smith, p. 491). The resilience of the British monarchy is amazing. A century ago almost all the countries of Europe had a monarch. Today, few do. Why has the British monarchy not only survived but thrived during the last 100 years? The answer can be found in the Bible. The biblical origins of the British monarchy and empire As explained in our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy , the origin of the British people goes back to the ancient nation of Israel.

And shocking though it may be to learn, the monarchy of Britain is in fact a continuation of the dynasty of Israel's King David—a dynasty God said would rule in all generations ( Psalms 89:3-4 Psalms 89:3-4 3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 Your seed will I establish for ever, and build up your throne to all generations. Selah. × ). For the amazing story, check out our free online publication The Throne of Britain: Its Biblical Origin and Future . The British Empire was a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy in Genesis 48 that the biblical patriarch Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, would become a multitude of nations and a great single nation: “Bless the lads; let my name [Israel] be named upon them” (verse 16). “He [Manasseh] also shall become a people and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations” (verse 19).

The prophesied multitude of nations was to be fulfilled by Britain and her scattered colonies, all united by a common loyalty to the crown. The great single nation, Manasseh, broke away from the crown and became the United States of America, eventually the most powerful single nation in world history. “And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh” (verse 20). The British Empire was to be powerful before the United States reached its ascendancy. And how great this empire was in its heyday! Today is only the second time in British history that a monarch has celebrated a diamond jubilee. The first time was in 1897 when Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth's great-great grandmother, celebrated hers. What was the empire like then?

“It was the largest Empire in the history of the world, comprising nearly a quarter of the land mass of the earth, and a quarter of its population … The sixtieth anniversary of her accession to the throne was being celebrated as a festival of imperial strength, splendor and unity—a mammoth exhibition of power, in a capital that loved things to be colossal … The nineteenth century had been pre-eminently Britain's century, and the British saw themselves still as top dogs” (James Morris, Pax Britannica, 1968, pp. 21-22). Many Britons were aware of their prophetic identity in the Victorian era, and it was a commonly held belief in the trenches in World War I. Stability masks profound change Major change has since followed. Fifty-five years after Victoria's jubilee, when Elizabeth became queen, most of the empire was still ruled from London. Now, 60 years later, almost all of it has gone, diminishing Britain's power and influence considerably. At the same time, Britain's economic position has dropped significantly. National decline has been constant under Elizabeth's reign. A second very significant change followed the loss of empire and continued economic decline.

In 1971, the United Kingdom's parliament voted to join the European Community (now the European Union). Jan. 1, 2013, will be the 40th anniversary of Britain's membership. At the time of joining, the British people were assured that the Community was purely an economic union that would boost British business. This was very deceptive, as the Treaty of Rome, signed by the six original members in 1957, pledged all member nations to form “an ever closer union.” Membership has changed Britain substantially and threatens to do so even more in the future. Many British people resent this and want to pull out of the EU. There is little support for the euro, Britons preferring to keep their own currency, the British pound. A third change inevitably followed Britain joining Europe—the weakening of Commonwealth ties, including the military ties that had helped Britain win the two world wars. Sixty years ago, with the exception of Canada, the other nations of the empire did most of their trade with Britain; their currencies were also tied to the British pound.

The prophesied strength of Britain was to be as “a multitude of nations.” Now that Britain has no empire and the Commonwealth is greatly diminished, this strength is gone. A fourth significant change in the last 60 years is that the roles of Britain and Germany have been reversed. After losing two world wars to Britain and its democratic allies, Germany today is the greatest economic power in Europe, a position held by Britain 60 years ago. For centuries British foreign policy was based on staying out of European affairs unless a Continental nation and leader became too powerful (such as Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm and Adolf Hitler). Rather, Britain would concentrate on her empire. Today, Britain is a lesser nation in a Continental union dominated by Germany. A fifth major change is in the makeup of the British population. During the queen's reign, Great Britain has become a multiethnic nation, with millions of people entering the country, mostly from former colonies. It's too early to tell if this multicultural experiment will work, but it has clearly altered Britain. The real test could come during the economic downturn that is now afflicting the country. Another big change may lie soon ahead—when Scotland votes on independence in 2014.

If the Scots vote to break away from England, it can only weaken both countries. The most major change of all But the seventh and greatest change has been the decline in religious beliefs and the subsequent breakdown of the traditional values the British once exemplified. British author Peter Hitchens wrote of this in 2000 in his book The Abolition of Britain: From Winston Churchill to Princess Diana, in which he contrasted the country at the time of Churchill's funeral in 1965 with the country 32 years later at the time of Diana's funeral. In 1965, the British were proud of their history and accomplishments. Most considered themselves Christians, and religious education was compulsory in schools. Divorce was rare, family life sacrosanct. Young people riding buses would stand to allow the elderly to sit. Great deference was paid to members of the royal family, and men respectfully removed their hats as Churchill and his retinue passed by, appreciative of his victorious leadership of the country in World War II. By the time of Diana's funeral in 1997, there was a general rejection of traditional biblical moral values. Worse, there was not even an awareness of them!

It wasn't like this until fairly recently. The 60s were the great reforming decade. At one time and for hundreds of years Great Britain was a biblically literate nation. Historian Benson Bobrick wrote about this in his 2010 book Wide as the Waters: The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired, his title taken from a poem about John Wycliffe, the first man to translate the Bible into his native English over six centuries ago. “Only in England was the Bible in any sense a national possession … Englishmen carried their Bible with them—as the rock and foundation of their lives—overseas … Beyond the shores of Albion [a poetic name for Britain] it fortified the spirit of the pioneers of New England, helped to shape the American psyche, and through its impact on thought and culture eventually spread the world over, 'as wide as the waters be'” (p. 12).

“By royal injunction, the Lord's Prayer and the 10 Commandments in English were to be taught sentence by sentence on Sundays and holy days throughout the year; at least one sermon on the Gospels was to be preached every quarter … ; and every parish church in England was to 'set up in some convenient place' a copy of the English Bible accessible to all as 'the very lively Word of God'” (p. 151). A writer at the time described people's enthusiasm for the newly available Bible: “It was wonderful to see with what joy the book of God was received … Everybody that could bought the book and busily read it; or got others to read it to them, if they could not themselves; and divers among the elderly learned to read on purpose. And even little boys flocked among the rest to hear portions of the Holy Scriptures read” (pp. 151-152). From loving God's Word to loathing it When did all this change?

Historian Jacques Barzun wrote: “It did not cease for 350 years: 1900 was the first year in which religious works (at least in England) did not outnumber all other publications” ( From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life 1500 to the Present, 2003, p. 10). January of the following year was the end of the Victorian era. Church attendance has been dropping ever since. Ironically, for the nation that once led the world in sending missionaries into pagan lands, Britain is today the home of more websites devoted to atheism than any other country! The result is the breakdown of marriage and family life and a growing lawlessness that led to serious rioting in the summer of 2011. The country also has a major drinking problem, the consumption of alcohol (and drugs) reflecting the emptiness of lives devoid of religious belief and purpose. All of this has contributed greatly to the country's financial problems as governments pick up the tab for all the social programs necessary to at least try to clean up the mess.

(To be fair, these problems are endemic throughout the Western world for the same reasons.) The biblical book of Deuteronomy contains a prophecy in chapter 28 that is applicable here. The descendants of Israel (which today includes the British, Australian, Canadian and American people) were promised great blessings for obedience, but serious negative consequences for disobedience. Some of those consequences are now coming to pass. Unless there is a heartfelt repentance, no doubt the others are sure to follow. By contrast, on June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth was crowned in a deeply religious ceremony that reflected the country's Christian heritage. In the ceremony “she pledged to honor the laws of Great Britain, its realms, territories and possessions, and 'maintain the Laws of God'” (Smith, p. 84). “'The real significance of the coronation for her was the anointing, not the crowning,' said Canon John Andrew, a friend of the royal family and senior chaplain to the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. 'She was consecrated, and that makes her Queen. It is the most solemn thing that has ever happened in her life. She cannot abdicate.

She is there until death'” (Smith, p. 85). Further changes ahead for Britain When she does eventually die, there will be further changes, reflecting Britain's diminishing role. It's unlikely that Prince Charles will succeed his mother as head of the Commonwealth. If Commonwealth members choose an African dictator to fill the role, the Commonwealth's commitment to democracy will cease. It is also likely that Britain, confronted with serious financial problems, will no longer be willing to bankroll the organization. At the same time, some of the Commonwealth realms might opt to replace the queen with a figurehead president appointed by their respective parliaments. At the time of her coronation, there was much talk of a “second Elizabethan age,” the first having been a time of England's rise to greatness following the Protestant Reformation. Elizabeth I (1558-1603) laid a solid foundation for the country to build on. By not marrying and leaving no heirs, her closest relative, James VI of Scotland, inherited the throne of England, thereby uniting the two kingdoms under one monarch. She also helped secure England's independence as a Protestant country separate from Rome. Additionally, it was a time of increasing prosperity.

The reign of Elizabeth II will be looked on as a time when these were reversed. This is not to say it's her fault, as she, unlike her namesake, is a constitutional monarch with very limited power. But the fact remains that the country has declined greatly during the six decades of Elizabeth's reign. Without her, it's doubtful the country would have held together as well as it has. Throughout the long period of decline, the British people have always had the queen to look up to, a revered figure who has consistently put the country first, always doing her duty in a humble and graceful way. She will be sorely missed when the time comes. Queen Elizabeth II: Elizabeth and Victoria in numbers - BBC News BBC News Queen Elizabeth II: Elizabeth and Victoria in numbers By John Harrison BBC News 6 September 2015 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Queen Elizabeth II will overtake Queen Victoria as the UK's longest serving monarch this week. Between them, they have reigned for more than 125 years. There are many parallels between the pair, as well as some marked differences.

Young Queens Image copyright Various VICTORIA became Queen aged 18 and remained on the throne for 23,226 days, or 63 years, seven months and two days. ELIZABETH assumed the throne aged 25 and will become Britain's longest reigning monarch on 9 September 2015. A member of the German House of Hanover, VICTORIA, who stood 4ft 11in (1.5 metres), was the last of the Hanoverian monarchs. She had nine children- four of whom became sovereigns or married sovereigns. ELIZABETH, who is 5ft 4ins (1.6 metres), is a descendant of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which was renamed the House of Windsor during World War One. Elizabeth and Prince Philip have four children. Becoming Queen Image copyright PA Some 400,000 people gathered in London for VICTORIA's coronation. An estimated 27 million people in Britain watched ELIZABETH's coronation on TV and 11 million listened on the radio.

Happily married Image copyright Various VICTORIA married Prince Albert on 10 February 1840 aged 21. They were married for 20 years, before he died in December 1861. ELIZABETH married the Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947, also aged 21. They have been married for nearly 68 years. She is the first reigning British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary. State of the nation When VICTORIA assumed the throne in 1837 - the population of England, Scotland and Wales was 16 million. She died on 22 January, 1901, when there were 32.5 million people living in England and Wales. ELIZABETH took the throne in 1952 with the UK population at 50 million. At her Diamond Jubilee, in 2012, it had increased to 63.2 million. Growth and decline VICTORIA oversaw an empire, measuring a quarter of the globe, and some 400 million people.

ELIZABETH is head of state of the UK and 15 Commonwealth realms, with a combined population of about 139 million. Official visits VICTORIA made her first official visit to Ireland in 1849. ELIZABETH has visited 116 countries on official trips, covering 43,618 miles in her coronation tour, in 1953. Wealthy women VICTORIA was given £385,000 a year by Parliament after taking the throne, later buying Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, and Balmoral Castle. ELIZABETH is estimated to be worth £340m. Prime ministers Image copyright Getty/AP/BBC Image caption Prime ministers under Victoria included (l-r) Viscount Palmerston, Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli; Elizabeth's premiers included Sir Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair VICTORIA's reign included 10 UK prime ministers. She outlived all but two. William Gladstone was prime minister on no less than four occasions during her monarchy. ELIZABETH has overseen 12 prime ministers.

Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving - for more than 11 years. Coins in circulation Image copyright The Royal Mint During VICTORIA's reign, some 2.5 billion coins were produced by the Royal Mint. Since ELIZABETH's coronation, 68 billion coins have been produced (8.1 billion pre-decimal coins and 60.3 billion decimal coins). Popes and archbishops VICTORIA's reign oversaw six Archbishops of Canterbury and three popes. ELIZABETH's has included seven archbishops and seven popes. Streets There are 153 roads named after VICTORIA in the UK. There are 237 named after ELIZABETH. Under threat? There were seven attempts to kill or assault VICTORIA during her lifetime. A teenager was arrested in 1981 for firing six blank cartridges at ELIZABETH as she rode on horseback before the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Queens of the modern age Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Elizabeth II has reigned for 63 years and seven months, matching Victoria's record Queen Victoria was Elizabeth II's great-great grandmother Victoria became queen at 18 while Elizabeth was 25 Elizabeth II rides in the same coach as Victoria did for the annual State Opening of Parliament Both queens were shot at by a lone gunman while out riding near Buckingham Palace Elizabeth loves the private royal estate at Balmoral in Scotland, which was bought by Victoria Victoria ruled over an empire of 400 million people. Elizabeth is head of state for 138 million people Canada's History - Queen Elizabeth II: The Longest Reign War of 1812 Queen Elizabeth II: The Longest Reign Elizabeth has lived longer than any other British monarch, and her reign is the longest in Commonwealth history. by Emily Cuggy/ Updated by Jessica Knapp As of September 9th, 2015 at 12:30 PM EST Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning monarch in British history. On this day she officially opened the new £294m Scottish Borders Railway.

Queen Elizabeth II surpasses the 63 years and 216 day reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (who reigned from 20 June 1837 to 22 January 1901). During Queen Elizabeth II's reign Canada has had eleven prime ministers. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, marking the sixty-year anniversary of her reign as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI. After a suitable mourning period, her coronation took place over one year later on June 2, 1953. Over 8000 people attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey and almost 3 million more lined the streets of London in celebration. Queen Elizabeth's coronation was the first ceremony to be televised, and was watched by another 20 million people all over the world. Queen Elizabeth II is the second monarch to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee; Queen Victoria was the first to do so in 1897.

Elizabeth has lived longer than any other British monarch, and her reign is the longest in Commonwealth history, surpassing Queen Victoria’s sixty-three year reign in September 2015. The Queen first visited Canada as Princess Elizabeth in 1951. She made her first visit as Queen in 1957, when she and Prince Philip opened Canada’s twenty-third Parliament. Two years later, the couple completed an extensive tour of Canada in which they visited every province and territory. She visited Canada in 1977 to celebrate her Silver Jubilee, and again in 2002 for her Golden Jubilee. The Queen has been present for many momentous occasions in Canadian history. Such occasions include the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, Canada’s Centennial celebrations in 1967, the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and the signing of Trudeau’s Constitution Act in 1982. The Queen has made twenty-two official tours of Canada to date — more than any other Commonwealth nation. Diamond Jubilee celebrations took place across Canada in 2012. As well, In honour of the Queen, Canada distributed sixty thousand Diamond Jubilee medals.

Medals were awarded to Canadians who have demonstrated dedication in serving their fellow citizens, their community, and their country. Recipients also included those who made a significant contribution to Canada or to their community. Diamond Jubilee 2012: Five Longest-Reigning U.K. Monarchs - ABC News Diamond Jubilee 2012: Five Longest-Reigning U.K. Monarchs ABC NEWS DIGITAL STAFF June 2, 2012 Carl Court- Pool/Getty Images Elizabeth Alexandra Mary can celebrate her Diamond Jubilee all she wants this week. But her 60 years on the throne are second fiddle to Queen Victoria, whose 23,227 days as U.K. monarch still top the chart. Alexandrina Victoria ruled for more than 63 years until her death in 1901 at age 81. Queen Elizabeth, 86 and counting, can still overtake her great-great-grandmother. Until then, however, here's the order of the five longest-reigning U.K. monarchs.

Universal History Archive/Getty Images Queen Victoria Reign:1837 to 1901 (63 years, 7 months, and 3 days). Her courage in the face of seven attempts made on her life between 1840 and 1882 increased her popularity. She wore black for the last 40 years of her reign after her husband died at age 42, according to the Royal Household website. Dave Chan/AFP/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II Reign: 1952 to present (60 years, 3 months, and 28 days). Elizabeth has had 12 British prime ministers during her reign, two more than Victoria. This is the third Jubilee for Elizabeth, who marked the Sliver and Golden celebrations in 1977 and 2002, respectively. Stock Montage/Getty Images King George III Reign: 1760 to 1820 (59 years, 3 months and 5 days). Although his monarchy fell shy of 60 years, "the celebration of the Sovereign's jubilee years really began in the long reign of King George III.

The beginning of the 50th year of his reign, on 25 October 1809, was marked both in Britain and the Colonies," according to the Royal Household. Rischgitz/Getty Images King James VI of Scotland Reign: 1567 to 1625 (57 years, 8 months and 3 days). Although the shrewd intellectual was described by some as "the most effective ruler Scotland ever had," philosopher David Hume was less impressed: "Many virtues ... it must be owned, he was possessed of, but no one of them pure, or free from the contagion of the neighboring vices"; Henri IV of France called James "the wisest fool in Christendom," according to the Royal Household. Hulton Archive/Getty Images King Henry III of England Reign: 1216 to 1272 (56 years and 30 days). Assuming the throne at age 9, Henry went on to become an extravagant ruler whose subjects resented his tax demands. But his "accounts show a list of many charitable donations and payments for building works (including the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey which began in 1245)," according to the Royal Household.

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Question: Which British monarch was the first to celebrate a diamond jubilee?
Answer: Victoria