Celebrating 60 years of The Queen”s reign
The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952, with her coronation taking place on 2 June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. This year, she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee – 60 years on the throne!
People all over the country are planning public and private events to mark the occasion – are you one of them?
The Queen is Head of State of the UK and 15 other Commonwealth realms. The elder daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, she was born in 1926 and became Queen at the age of 25, and has reigned through more than five decades of enormous social change and development. The Queen is married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and has four children and eight grandchildren.
The official Jubilee website offers a host of information about the Queen”s Diamond Jubilee, her life and some amazing pictures – check it out here. It also includes 60 facts about the atoledo Queen you may not know including:
- The Queen is the second longest serving monarch. Only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. They are:
• Victoria (63 years)
• George III (59 years)
• Henry III (56 years)
• Edward III (50 years)
• James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years) - The Queen has sent almost 540,000 telegrams to couples in the UK and the Commonwealth celebrating their diamond wedding (60 years) anniversary.
- The Queen has sat for 129 portraits during her reign.
- In an average year, The Queen will host more than 50,000 people at banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace. The Queen also hosts more than 8,000 people each year at garden parties and investitures at Holyroodhouse, during Holyrood Week.
- There have been only three Diamond Jubilees of Heads of State celebrated throughout the world during The Queen’s reign. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand celebrated 60 years on the throne in 2006; the former Sultan of Johor (now a part of Malaysia) celebrated his in 1955; and the late Emperor Hirohito of Japan celebrated his in 1986.
Some useful links if you are organising a Jubilee Party of your own…
Direct Gov – Organising a small street party
And don”t forget to contact us for help taking the stress out of catering for your party, themed/novelty cupcakes or even a themed Jubilee cake to make the celebrations really sparkle!
