Her Majesty’s Sapphire Jubilee

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King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, King George VI of the United Kingdom, Kings and Queens of England, kings and queens of Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Victoria, Royal Family, Sandringham Estate, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In a few short weeks, on February 6, 2017, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will celebrate 65 years on the throne technically inaugurating 2017 as her Sapphire Jubilee Year. In September 2015 she surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning queen regnant and female head of state in world history. In October 2016, she became the longest currently reigning monarch and head of state following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Her Majesty became Queen on February 6, 1952 when her father, King George VI, passed away in his sleep at the Sandringham estate.

From what I have read there will be no official celebration for her Sapphire Jubilee and I for one think this is a good idea. On April 21 of this year Her Majesty will also be 91 and although this dedicated monarch will continue to carry out her royal duties there are already signs that she will be slowing down a bit as she hands off some of her duties to other members of the Royal Family. I think this is a good idea. After a long battle with a severe cold, which can be be quite serious for the elderly, I would like to see Her Majesty slow down a bit and take care of herself. I do not want to see her abdicate and nor will she ever, I just would like to see her slow down a little.

 

 

 

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64 Years on the Throne

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Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II, England, George VI, King George VI of the United Kingdom, Kings and Queens of England, kings and queens of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II

Today HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland marks the 64^th year on the throne. Her father, King George VI, died on this date, February 6, 1952. Last September 2015, Her Majesty became Britain’s longest ruling monarch when she surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (1837-1901) who reigned for 63 years and seven months.

Her Majesty is also the oldest sovereign to reign. Queen Victoria also held that record. She was 82 when she passed away in 1901. At age 89 Her Majesty broke that record seven years ago. This April 21, Her Majesty will turn 90 and many celebrations are planned in Britain for this momentous milestone.

Almost 90 and having been queen for 64 years Her Majesty shows no sign of slowing down. Her calendar is full, although maybe not as full as years past for the Prince of Wales has taken over some of her work. Still, unless some heath crisis appears Her Majesty will continue to press forward.

Although today we mark the 64^th year Her Majesty came to the throne, within the Royal Family itself these dates are rarely acknowledged publicly. For royal historians such as my self and other royal enthusiasts this is a special day, for Her Majesty this is the day her father died and that is something to be noted but not celebrated. What we will celebrate is the dedication and the long life of service to her country and long may she continue to reign.

 

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

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Buckingham Palace, Diamond Jubilee, Duke of Edinburgh, HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, House of House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, King Christian IX of Denmark, King George VI of the United Kingdom, Prince Philip, Queen Victoria

With HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the Hospital I thought I would have him as our featured royal.

Born on June 10, 1921 to HRH Prince Andreas of Greece and Denmark and HSH Princess Alice of Battenburg Prince Philip is a member of the House of House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and a great-great grandson of Britain’s Queen Victoria and great grandson of Denmark’s King Christian IX. Despite his Danish and German ancestry the Duke of Edinburgh is very British and has lived the overwhelming majority in that country. In 1939 he joined the British Navy and on his 90th birthday Her Majesty the Queen awarded her husband with the rank of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom.

The Duke of Edinburgh met his future wife in 1939 when he was 18 and she was 13. In 1939 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. Upon the request of the Queen and Philip’s uncle, Earl Mountbatten, they asked him to escort Elizabeth and Margaret, who were Philip’s third cousins through Queen Victoria, and second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark, while their parents visited the facility. Philip and Elizabeth began a correspondence via letters and it seems Elizabeth with smitten with the tall blond prince on their first meeting. In 1946 Philip asked the king for permission to marry Elizabeth. This request was granted on the condition that it would not be announced until after the Elizabeth’s 21st birthday in April of the next year. The day before the wedding his wedding, King George VI bestowed the style His Royal Highness on Philip, and on the day of the wedding, 20 November 1947, King George VI granted Philip the titles of the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich.

The Duke of Edinburgh has been an excellent support to Her Majesty the queen. However, he has not been without controversy. The prince is no wall flower and often speaks his mind. Sometimes he would make and off-the-cuff remark or joke that would be taken either out of context or was not meant to be offensive but people would at times be offended but what he has said.

The princes has always been a very active man. He played polo until 1971 and then took up the sport of carriage driving. I worked at a historical house and have seen competitive carriage driving myself. I really enjoyed watching that and was happy that the prince took up that sport. Philip was also a skilled yachtsman and pilot.

It is difficult to capture a person’s life in a brief blog post. I tried to hit a few highlights today. I have a great respect for the Duke of Edinburgh and I wish him well and hopefully he will be back on his feet soon. This has been an extremely busy year for the Duke and the Queen. With the Jubilee celebrations and then the Olympics I question the wisdom of pushing two elderly people this hard, despite the fact that they have been in good health. Maybe next year it is time for Her Majesty to begin turning some of her responsibilities to the Prince of Wales? I am not a supporter of abdication but I do see the wisdom in the queen cutting back some and giving some duties to the prince of Wales and other members of the royal family.

 

Busy Royals!!

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Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II, King Edward III of England, King George VI of the United Kingdom, Kings and Queens of England, kings and queens of the United Kingdom, Royal Ascot, The Most Noble Order of the Garter, Trooping of the Colour, United Kingdom of Great Britain

I was swamped too so I could not get to my blogs yesterday. There is simply no rest for the royals. Not until August when the queen goes to Balmoral. In the last week we have witnessed the Trooping of the Colour (the official celebration of the Queen’s Birthday), Ceremony for the Most Nobel Order of the Garter and Royal Ascot.

Trooping the Colour

Trooping the Colour is a ceremony that began in the 17th century and is performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. During a military conflict a regiment’s or flags, were used as rallying points. Since 1748 Trooping the Colour has also marked the official birthday of the British sovereign. It is held in London every year on a Saturday in June at Horse Guards Parade by St. James’s Park, and coincides with the publication of the Birthday Honours List. 

The gathering of the Royal Family on the balcony marks the first appearance of the Duke of Edinburgh since he was released from the hospital. 

Garter Ceremony.

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the highest, and oldest, order of Chivalry in Britain and was founded by King Edward III of England circa 1348. The ceremony for the Garter is held on Monday’s of Ascot Week. It was held sporadically in the 18th century and ceased altogether in 1805. King George VI revived the ceremony in 1945 and it has been held every year since. The opening of the ceremony consists of the members of the Order, displayed in their ceremonial robes and Garter insignia, process from the state apartments in the Upper Ward of Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel where the service is held. When any new Knights of the Garter have been created they are installed on this occasion.

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is one of the major social events of the year. It began in the reign of Queen Anne in 1711. It is a horse racing event attended by the Queen and the other members of the Royal Family. The queen processes in a carriage and the royal standard is raised at the begin of each days racing. This event has become well know for the fancy dress and formal attire worn by the spectators along with the often outrageous hats worn by the women.