Looking forward to the 2012 Diamond Jubilee
celebrations
When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952, she was 25
years old, a Royal Navy officer's wife, with two young children and
limited knowledge of the world. Today she is probably the most
experienced of all world leaders and respected around the world.
Prime ministers come and go - the Queen has worked with a dozen,
from Winston Churchill (born 1874) to David Cameron (born
1966).
Leaders, especially Commonwealth leaders, know that in the
Queen, they have a knowledgeable, permanent head of state, one who
will not be blown hither and thither by the winds of political
expediency. Her dignity, honesty and integrity are beyond
question. Recent polls in Britain have shown that support for
the Queen is as strong as ever, while referendums in Australia
(1999) Tuvalu (2008) and St Vincent and the Grenadines (2009) voted
in favour of keeping the monarchy. In a culture of shallow
celebrity, her values, tastes and standards remain as steadfast, if
unfashionable, as ever.
Diamond Jubilee Weekend
To celebrate this remarkable achievement, organisers have
planned a packed schedule of activities. At the heart of the
festivities will be a four-day "Diamond Jubilee Weekend".
Tuesday 5th June 2012 is to be an extra bank holiday, while the
late spring holiday is moved to Monday 4th June to make a long
Diamond Jubilee Weekend. On 4th of June the BBC will organise
a spectacular concert at Buckingham Palace - the line up is yet to
be decided, but you can bank on it being as star-studded as the
Golden Jubilee Palace Concerts.
Tickets will be allocated by ballot. A brilliant innovation
is the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3rd June, when Her
Majesty will lead a colourful flotilla of up to 1,000 craft up the
Thames, London's historic waterway. The armed forces,
fire, police and rescue service will all be present, together with
30,000 spectators in passenger boats, plus Thames sailing boats,
music barges, pyrotechnic barges, and historic boats.
Back on dry land The Queen will light the first in a chain of
2,012 beacons, blazing across the nation. Many more events,
some yet to be announced, will be held in Britain and the
Commonwealth. People will be encouraged to share a "Diamond
Jubilee" Sunday lunch with family, friends and neighbours on Sunday
3rd June.
The long Diamond Jubilee weekend will finish with the
traditional carriage procession and thanksgiving service at St
Paul's Cathedral. As a postscript, the Diamond Jubilee Emblem
will be used on a wide range of commemorative Diamond Jubilee
items. Usually it's designed by professionals, but this time
it's the work of 10-year-old Katherine Dewar from Chester, whose
design was selected from 35,000 entries in a Blue Peter
competition.
To view our current range of
Diamond Jubilee Commemoratives, please click here>>
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