Golden Jubilee Celebrations
It is interesting to remember in this Golden Jubilee year that three of the longest reigning monarchs of England were women.
Elizabeth l was five years short of her Golden Jubilee when she died in 1603.
Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1887 and her Diamond Jubilee (60 years) in 1897. She died in 1901 aged 82 years. She was the longest reigning English monarch.
Queen Elizabeth ll has reigned since 1952 and celebrates her Golden Jubilee this year.
In “Queen Victoria and her people” by C S Dawe there are details of the events which marked the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. These show that not much in the way of Royal celebrations has changed since then. They are listed as Thanksgiving Services, feasts for the poor, treats for the young, illuminations and bonfires throughout the length and breadth of the country”. There was also a series of exhibitions, concerts, foundation stones laid and buildings opened by the Queen and a Grand Procession from the Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Dawe writes that “Next to the Queen herself, the greatest attraction was her body-guard of seventeen princes in military uniform, superbly mounted and wearing their jewels and orders. They rode three abreast, the Queen’s three sons coming last.”
The Oliver Collection also contains a poster (too large to exhibit) of events in Englefield Green to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in June 1887. On Jubilee Day the Church Lads’ Brigade Band led a procession to the Green where a bonfire was lit to the singing of the National Anthem. On 24th June there was a “Dinner for the aged poor” in a tent on the Green, where everyone attending was presented with a Jubilee Medal, also a tea for the children. During the afternoon there were “sports and pastimes” with several bands playing.
On display:
HENTZNER, Paul. “Travels in England during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth”. 1797.
TASKER, Sohrabji Kuvarji. “Jubilee Persian Poem to Mother Victoria”. 1887.
HOLMES, Richard R. Queen Victoria. 1897.
DAWE, C S. Queen Victoria and her people. c.1898.
LIDDELL, H G. The Queen’s Jubilee: a sermon. 1887.
Joan Wintour
March 2012