Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria

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Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Helen Thornycroft - Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession passing over London Bridge, 1897.jpg
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession passing over London Bridge, 1897 by Helen Thornycroft
GenreJubilee of British monarch
Date(s)20 June 1897
Country
  • United Kingdom
  • British India
  • British Empire
Previous eventGolden Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Next eventSilver Jubilee of George V

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was officially celebrated on 22 June 1897 to mark the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession on 20 June 1837. It was the first ever Diamond Jubilee celebration of any British monarch in history.

Background[]

Queen Victoria surpassed her grandfather King George III as the longest-reigning British monarch on 23 September 1896, an event that she marked privately at Balmoral Castle. She wrote in her journal, "People wished to make all sorts of demonstrations, which I asked them not to do until I had completed the sixty years next June." The Diamond Jubilee was therefore an opportunity celebrate Victoria’s status as longest-reigning monarch, in addition to marking 60 years on the throne.[1] On 20 June 1897, the sixtieth anniversary of her accession, Victoria wrote in her journal:[2]

This eventful day, 1897 has opened, and I pray God to help and protect me as He has hitherto done these sixty long eventful years! I feel sad at the new losses I have sustained, especially the last one of our beloved Liko! God will surely help me on! How well I remember this day sixty years ago when I was called from my bed by dear Mama to receive the news of my accession!

The sixtieth anniversary of her accession was celebrated on 20 June 1897 with a thanksgiving service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.[1]

Celebrations[]

Indian Cavalry passing the Houses of Parliament, 22 June 1897

The occasion was marked publicly two days later by the Festival of the British Empire proposed by Joseph Chamberlain, who promoted the idea of a global celebration fit for a monarch ruling over 450 million people.[3] The day was declared a bank holiday in Britain, Ireland and India. The British Army and Royal Navy as well as troops from Canada, India, Africa and the South Pacific took part in the procession in London.[3] The Queen telegraphed a message to all nations in the British Empire: "From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them."[2]

At 11:15 am, the Queen, along with Princess Helena and the Princess of Wales, took part in the parade in an open carriage from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral, where thanksgiving service took place.[4] Seventeen other carriages carrying members of the royal family followed her.[4] Eleven colonial prime ministers were in attendance:[5][6]

Suffering from severe arthritis and unable to climb the steps, the Queen remained in her coach, so the short service of thanksgiving was held outside the building.[3][5] She was joined by the clergy and dignitaries.[4] Victoria returned to Buckingham Palace after touring a large area of London. Later, when reflecting on the occasion Victoria said:

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.[3]

Thousands of residents in London and Manchester took part in street feasts, where Thomas Lipton distributed free ale and tobacco.[3] A chain of beacons were lit across the United Kingdom and Nottingham, Bradford and Hull were granted their city charter as part of the celebrations.[3] The following day the Queen visited Constitution Hill where 10,000 schoolchildren had gathered, and attended a reception in Slough.[3]

The celebrations lasted a fortnight and a garden party at Buckingham Palace and a state banquet were held to mark the occasion.[4] Memorial fountains and towers were erected to mark the occasion, including the Jubilee Tower and the Cunningham Clock Tower. Alfred Austin and Rudyard Kipling also wrote special poems in honour of the Queen.[4]

Royal guests at the Jubilee celebration[]

British royal family[]

  • The Queen of the United Kingdom
    • German Empire The Empress Frederick, the Queen's daughter
      • Saxe-Meiningen The Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, the Queen's granddaughter (representing the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen)
        • Saxe-Meiningen Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen, the Queen's great-granddaughter
      • Kingdom of Prussia Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia, the Queen's grandson and granddaughter (representing the German Emperor)
      • Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe Princess and Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law (representing the Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe)
      • Princess and Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law
    • The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Queen's son and daughter-in-law
      • The Duke and Duchess of York, the Queen's grandson and granddaughter-in-law
        • Prince Edward of York, the Queen's great-grandson
        • Prince Albert of York, the Queen's great-grandson
        • Princess Mary of York, the Queen's great-granddaughter
      • The Duchess and Duke of Fife, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law
      • Princess Victoria of Wales, the Queen's granddaughter
      • Denmark Princess and Prince Charles of Denmark, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law
    • Saxe-Coburg and Gotha The Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Queen's son and daughter-in-law
      • Saxe-Coburg and Gotha The Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Queen's grandson
      • Grand Duchy of Hesse The Grand Duchess and Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson
      • The Hereditary Princess and Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law
      • Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Queen's granddaughter
    • Princess and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the Queen's daughter and son-in-law
    • Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne and the Marquess of Lorne, the Queen's daughter and son-in-law
    • The Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, the Queen's son and daughter-in-law
      • Princess Margaret of Connaught, the Queen's granddaughter
      • Prince Arthur of Connaught, the Queen's grandson
      • Princess Patricia of Connaught, the Queen's granddaughter
    • The Duchess of Albany, the Queen's daughter-in-law
      • Princess Alice of Albany, the Queen's granddaughter
      • The Duke of Albany, the Queen's grandson
    • Princess Henry of Battenberg, the Queen's daughter
    • Princess and Prince Louis of Battenberg, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law
      • Princess Alice of Battenberg, the Queen's great-granddaughter
      • Princess Louise of Battenberg, the Queen's great-granddaughter
      • Prince George of Battenberg, the Queen's great-grandson
    • Russian Empire Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia, the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law (representing the Emperor of Russia)

Other descendants of The Queen's paternal grandfather, King George III and their families:

Foreign royals[]

  • The Prince and Princess of Leiningen, the Queen's half-nephew and half-niece-in-law
  • Princess Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the Queen's half-niece-in-law
    • Countess Feodora Gleichen, the Queen's half-great-niece
    • Count Edward Gleichen, the Queen's half-great-nephew
    • Countess Victoria Gleichen, the Queen's half-great-niece
    • Countess Helena Gleichen, the Queen's half-great-niece
  • Kingdom of Italy The Prince and Princess of Naples (representing the King of Italy)
  • Austria-Hungary Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (representing the Emperor of Austria)
  • Thailand The Crown Prince of Siam (representing the King of Siam)
  • Thailand Prince Mahit of Siam
  • Kingdom of Prussia Prince Albert of Prussia, regent of the Duchy of Brunswick
  • Denmark Prince Valdemar of Denmark (representing the King of Denmark)
  • Empire of Japan Prince Arisugawa Takehito (representing the Emperor of Japan)
  • Sweden The Duke of Närke (representing the King of Sweden and Norway)
  • Russian Empire Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia
  • Bavaria Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (representing the Prince Regent of Bavaria)
  • Kingdom of Saxony Prince Frederick, Duke of Saxony (representing the King of Saxony)
  • Kingdom of Portugal The Duke of Porto (representing the King of Portugal)
  • Kingdom of Württemberg Duke Albrecht of Württemberg (representing the King of Württemberg)
  • Luxembourg The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (representing the Grand Duke of Luxembourg)
  • Qajar Iran Prince Amir Khan of Persia (representing the Shah of Persia)
  • Principality of Montenegro The Hereditary Prince of Montenegro (representing the Prince of Montenegro)
  • Principality of Bulgaria The Prince and Princess of Bulgaria
  • Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
  • Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
  • Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar
  • Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (representing the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach)
  • Khedivate of Egypt Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik (representing the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan)
  • Prince Charles de Ligne (representing the King of Belgium)

[7] [8]

Gallery[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee – 1897". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b McKernan, Luke (2012), "QUEEN VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE" (PDF), lukemckernan.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Sully, Andy (22 May 2012). "Queen Victoria and Britain's first Diamond Jubilee". BBC. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "1897 - Victoria, Diamond". St Paul's Cathedral. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "A history of Jubilees". Royal.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. ^ "THE QUEEN'S RECORD REIGN., NEW ZEALAND MAIL, ISSUE 1322, 1 JULY 1897, PAGE 31". Papers Past. 1 July 1897. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  7. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26947/data.pdf
  8. ^ "Illustrated Programme of the Royal Jubilee Procession" (PDF). London: 190 Strand. 1897. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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