From silver to platinum: a history of Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilees
Embark on a royal journey, tracing the path from silver to platinum, as we delve into the rich history of Queen Elizabeth II's jubilees. Witness the evolution of these grand celebrations, reflecting the enduring reign of a beloved monarch.
The history of royal jubilees
The first jubilee celebrations were celebrated on the 49th anniversary of George III’s accession in 1809
- Queen Victoria had to be persuaded to celebrate her golden jubilation after 50 years because the government was reluctant to spend money on it
- In June 1887, Queen Victoria was forced to have an operation because her health was failing, and she did not want crowds to boo and jeer her
- George V celebrated his silver and gold jubiles in May 1935 as a display of British unity, a warning to Europe’s dictators, and partly with an eye to the upcoming general election
2012: The diamond jubilee
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stood stoically in the open on their barge, watching the procession pass by – a gallant performance that landed the duke in hospital with an infection.
- Once again the Queen and duke toured the British Isles but this time, in a concession to their age, other family members were sent on tours abroad: Prince Charles and his wife Camilla to Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and Prince William and Catherine to Malaysia and the Pacific islands.
2017: The sapphire jubilee
The 65th anniversary of the Queen’s accession passed without fanfare.
- On 6 February 2017, she spent the day privately at Sandringham, as she does every year, going through the red boxes of official documents sent to her daily by the government.
1977: The silver jubilee
The success of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s 25 years on the throne was by no means a foregone conclusion.
- James Callaghan’s minority Labour government was reluctant to spend money on a celebration, but was talked into it by Sir Martin Charteris, the Queen’s private secretary, despite warnings in the press that it was unlikely to be a success because no one would want to celebrate the monarchy.
2002: The golden jubilee
The 50th anniversary of the Queen’s accession followed a decade of shocks to the monarchy: the divorces of three of her children, including the highly public and acrimonious split between Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales and the subsequent death of Diana in an accident in Paris; and the fire at Windsor Castle, after which it was announced that the Queen wished to pay income tax for the first time.
- Centenary celebrations for the Queen included two concerts, one classical and one pop, on a giant stage in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
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