Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (English Diamond Jubilee) was in 2012 the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II There were celebrations in all Commonwealth realms instead. In contrast to the previous anniversaries when the Queen most of these countries had undertaken visits were she and her husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, this time in the UK and were represented by their children and other family members. The main celebrations were held from July 2 to 5, 2012 in London as part of the Diamond Jubilee Weekend instead. Among the highlights were the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant - a parade of over 1000 vessels on the River Thames and the largest of its kind in history. Many sights, buildings and the like is named in honor of the Diamond Jubilee.
Preparations
In October 2011, the Summit of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations, held in Perth in Australia, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the forthcoming creation of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. It was launched on February 6, 2012, the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne in life. The guided by former British Prime Minister John Major Foundation should charitable organizations and projects in the Commonwealth countries to support, with a focus on activities such as fighting disease or promoting culture and education. In February 2012, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that her government will contribute 5.4 million AUD to the Trust, the New Zealand Government later made a similar commitment in the amount of 1 million NZD.
In the same month, a senior adviser was quoted as saying that the queen had laid down two principles for the planning of the celebrations: the use of public funds should be as low as possible and no one should be " forced to celebrate ". The financing of the celebrations took place for the most part by private donors and sponsors. The HM Treasury wore only the cost of security measures. The logo of Diamond Jubilee was determined in a competition in the BBC children's program Blue Peter; it won the draft ten -year-old Katherine Dewar.
In the Commonwealth Realms
United Kingdom
On January 5, 2010, the Lord President of the Council Peter Mandelson announced that there would be an additional bank holiday ( bank holiday ) on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. By shifting the traditional spring bank holiday day ( usually on the last Monday in May) on Monday, June 4th, four days off were in a row. Some economists predicted that the gross domestic product in the second quarter of this could fall by 0.5 %, but this would be offset by higher sales in the tourism and commerce in part.
On 20 March 2012, the Queen held in Westminster Hall a speech before both houses of Parliament. The first international event for the Diamond Jubilee was a Diamond Jubilee Pageant from 10th to May 13th It was a series of cavalcades in the courtyard of Windsor Castle. They were under the motto The World Comes to Windsor ( " The world is coming to Windsor " ) and were part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The numerous state visits of the Queen were celebrated here during its six decades of rule and their love of horses. The show consisted of 550 horses and 1,100 contributors from around the world, the Queen herself was present at the last performance.
The Queen received on May 18, more than 20 incumbent or former monarch from other countries for lunch at Windsor Castle. Criticism was 'm loud to the presence of Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, because of the suppression of the protests against the Bahraini government in 2011. During the event, protesters gathered in front of Buckingham Palace. Windsor Castle was on May 19, also the scene of a military parade ( Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Parade and patterns). At this participated in all three branches of the British armed forces to honor their commander in chief. Part of the parade was also an air show with 78 current and historical aircraft.
Google presented June 2, 2012 on its main page a Google Doodle, which was composed of the profile of the Queen, Corgis and diamonds. The following day, June 3, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant was held. At this parade on the Thames in 1000 Watercraft from across the Commonwealth participating. It was the largest parade on the river for over 350 years and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest boat and ship parade that had ever taken place. Heavy rain began during the parade, so that the proposed accompanying air show had to be canceled due to low-hanging clouds and poor visibility. In addition to almost all members of the royal family also various Governors-General of the Commonwealth Realms were present.
Prince Philip had to be hospitalized on 4 June due to a bladder infection and was unable to attend other ceremonies for a while. On the evening of the same day the terrain in front of Buckingham Palace was the scene of the Diamond Jubilee Concert. Before this concert with several dozen pop stars and bands, the 10,000 visitors the drawn gathered for a picnic in the palace garden. Organizer of the world's most televised concert was the Take That singer Gary Barlow. In the course of that day, several thousand bonfires were lit in many countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and British overseas territories. The Queen herself lit a fire in the evening in front of Buckingham Palace, shortly after the concert.
Members of the Royal Family, Governors-General, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth Realms and 2000 other guests attended a thanksgiving service at St Paul 's Cathedral on June 5. Will Todd composed specially for the occasion, the anthem The Call of Wisdom, which was presented by the 40 -member children's choir Diamond Choir. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, devoted his sermon to the Queen and thanked for their lifelong commitment. Then the queen held up at an official reception in the Mansion House, while other family members took part in a similar event in the Guildhall. In an open carriage, accompanied by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the Queen returned then back to Buckingham Palace; Hundreds of thousands of people lined the route. The day ended with another air show ( including the last airworthy Lancaster bomber ), when the royal family gathered on the palace balcony to present again the crowd.
Australia
In Australia, the celebrations confined mainly to the participation in the activities in the UK. Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall received an official visit from November 5 to 10. They traveled through Queensland, Victoria South Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Charles and Camilla took part in various cultural events and met with the population. They were also present at the Melbourne Cup.
Canada
On February 6, the day of accession to the throne, began in Canada, the Diamond Jubilee Week. The Royal Standard was hoisted for Canada in Ottawa on the Rideau Hall, on Parliament Hill, as well as on all the residences of the Deputy Governors and on the parliament buildings in the provinces and territories. Elizabeth II had given permission to deviate from the usual flag protocol: This provides that the Royal Standard shall be hoisted only where the Queen is staying personally. In the days that followed 60,000 Canadians won the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded for outstanding service, 60 of them by the Governor General David Johnston. The monarchy critical association Citizens for a Canadian Republic, criticized the government spending on the anniversary celebrations were unreasonable and more of the " been expected personality cult dynasties of North Korea or Syria, not from Canada. " Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall traveled from May 20 to 23 by the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan. They visited various cultural and social institutions, attended receptions, mingled with the population and inspected units of the Canadian Forces.
New Zealand
New Zealand was from 10 to 16 November 2012, the end of a journey of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. They traveled through Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Manawatu. Focus of the visit, Commissioner innovations in the fields of economy, agriculture, voluntary work, sports, education of children and animal welfare. Various commentators have criticized the lack of interest of the authorities in the celebrations and complained that New Zealand had " missed opportunity " one. Criticism also came the lack of coverage in the news programs of the public broadcaster TVNZ.
Caribbean Commonwealth realms
The first station of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who traveled on board the RFA Fort Rosalie, was on February 21, St. Lucia. There she took part in the celebrations of Independence Day and visited the one. Then endowed 23-24. February Barbados a visit. In the port of Bridgetown they inspected a unit of Barbadian troops. During a joint session of both chambers of parliament, the earl read a message from the Queen. The couple opened an exhibition of the University of the West Indies, visited a children's home, unveiled a plaque at the Kensington Oval Cricket Ground and visited parts of the city, which had previously been included in the UNESCO world heritage. On February 25, they arrived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There they planted trees in the Botanical Gardens and attended a banquet at the residence of the Governor General. On March 3, they were received in St. Kitts and Nevis by the Governor General, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. They took before the official opening of a park and visited the Brimstone Hill Fortress, as well as a children's hospital. The day ended with a State banquet with fireworks show in Port Zante. Also on the program were historical re-enactments.
Prince Harry visited on 2/3 March Belize. Ceremonies were held in Belmopan and San Ignacio. He traveled to the border with Guatemala, where he took part in a cultural program and a facility for immigrants inspected, as are the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. Finally, he inspected units of the Coast Guard and the Army. On 5 / 6 March, he visited the Bahamas. He hosted a reception for young people and watched a parade, in which schools and youth organizations presented. He also participated in an exercise of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. From 5 to 8 May, he was in Jamaica. He participated in an exercise of the Jamaica Defence Force, visited the memorial to William Knibb, ran with Usain Bolt to race and was made an honorary member of the University of the West Indies. Governor General Patrick Allen hosted a banquet to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, as well as both the 50th anniversary of the independence of Jamaica.
Pacific Commonwealth Realms
Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall were from 3rd to 5th of November in Papua New Guinea as a guest. In and around the capital, Port Moresby, they met with representatives of churches, charitable organizations, cultural groups and members of the armed forces. More stations on this trip were the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
British overseas territories
Prince Richard, 2nd Duke of Gloucester visited the British Virgin Islands in March. In Gibraltar, the counterpart to the boat parade on the Thames took place on June 4, 2012; at the Gibraltar Diamond Jubilee Flotilla to 161 vessels involved. For a smaller diplomatic upset made three weeks before the visit of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie: Spain, raises the claim to Gibraltar, protested officially against their presence.