Royal Jubilees
Marking significant anniversaries in a monarch's reign
A Jubilee is the name given to the occasion of a significant anniversary in a monarch's reign. Today, we assign a precious substance to the term to denote particular numbers:
- Silver Jubilee for 25 years
- Golden Jubilee for 50 years
- Diamond Jubilee for 60 years
- Platinum Jubilee for 70 years
2022 sees the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession, and thus the first Platinum Jubilee ever celebrated.
However, the first Jubilee celebrations of any kind in Britain took place in 1809 and 1810, with the Golden Jubilee of George III marking the fiftieth year of the king’s reign. The anniversary festivities set the pattern for all subsequent Jubilees, with a Service of Thanksgiving attended by the king and a series of events throughout the country. There were feasts, military processions and festivals. Fireworks, beacons and illuminations were lit and monuments built. The newly-scored ‘God Save the King’ became the national anthem. Jubilee medals were minted and ceramic souvenirs were produced. The year was termed the ‘Grand National Jubilee’.
Since then, Jubilees have been celebrated in much the same style although with greater emphasis in recent years on creating a lasting legacy of each occasion.
Click or tap on the sections below to learn about each Royal Jubilee in British history and how it was commemorated.
