The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was officially celebrated on 22 June 1897 to mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession on 20 June 1837. Queen Victoria was the first British monarch ever to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

Background

Queen Victoria surpassed her grandfather

King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great B ...

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 to celebrate Victoria's status as longest-reigning monarch, in addition to marking 60 years on the throne. On 20 June 1897, the sixtieth anniversary of her accession, Victoria wrote in her journal: The sixtieth anniversary of her accession was celebrated on 20 June 1897 with a thanksgiving service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Celebrations

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. The day was declared a bank holiday in Britain, Ireland and India. The

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...

and

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

as well as troops from Canada, India, Africa and the South Pacific took part in the procession in London. The Queen telegraphed a message to all nations in the British Empire: "From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them." 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 St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglicanism, Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London ...

, where thanksgiving service took place. Seventeen other carriages carrying members of the royal family followed her. Eleven colonial prime ministers were in attendance: * The Prime Minister of Canada and Lady Laurier * The Premier of New South Wales * The Premier of Victoria and Lady Turner * The Premier of New Zealand and Mrs Seddon * The Premier of Queensland and Lady Nelson * The Premier of South Australia and Mrs Kingston * The Prime Minister of Cape Colony and Lady Sprigg * The Premier of Tasmania and Lady Braddon * The Premier of Newfoundland and Lady Whiteway * The Premier of Western Australia and Lady Forrest * The Prime Minister of Natal and Mrs Escombe 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. She was joined by the clergy and dignitaries. Victoria returned to Buckingham Palace after touring a large area of London. Later, when reflecting on the occasion Victoria said: Thousands of residents in London and Manchester took part in street feasts, where Thomas Lipton distributed free ale and tobacco. A chain of beacons were lit across the United Kingdom and

Nottingham Nottingham ( , locally ) is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east of Sheffield and north-east of Birmingham. Nottingham has links to the legend of Robi ...

, Bradford and

Hull Hull may refer to: Structures * Chassis, of an armored fighting vehicle * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a ship * Submarine hull Mathematics * Affine hull, in affi ...

were granted their

city charter A city charter or town charter (generically, municipal charter) is a legal document ('' charter'') establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the Middle Ages. Traditionally the granting of a charte ...

as part of the celebrations. The following day the Queen visited Constitution Hill in the City of London where 10,000 schoolchildren had gathered, and attended a reception in Slough. The celebrations lasted a fortnight and a garden party at Buckingham Palace and a state banquet were held to mark the occasion. Memorial fountains and towers were erected to mark the occasion, including the

Jubilee Tower The octagonal Jubilee Tower (officially called Darwen Tower) at grid reference SD678215 on Darwen Hill overlooking the town of Darwen in Lancashire, England, was completed in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and also to cel ...

on the moors above Darwen in Lancashire and the

Cunningham Clock Tower The Cunningham Clock Tower ( ur, کننگہام گھنٹہ گھر) in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, was built in 1900, "in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen Empress". The tower was named after Sir George ...

Peshawar Peshawar (; ps, پېښور ; hnd, ; ; ur, ) is the sixth most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 2.3 million. It is situated in the north-west of the country, close to the International border with Afghanistan. It is ...

on the North West Frontier of British India.

Alfred Austin Alfred Austin (30 May 1835 – 2 June 1913) was an English poet who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1896, after an interval following the death of Tennyson, when the other candidates had either caused controversy or refused the honour. It was cl ...

and

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)'' The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

also wrote special poems in honour of the Queen.

Royal guests at the Jubilee celebrations

British royal family

* The Queen of the United Kingdom ** The Empress Frederick, ''the Queen's daughter'' *** The Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, ''the Queen's granddaughter'' (representing the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen) **** Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen, ''the Queen's great-granddaughter'' ***

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...

and Princess Henry of Prussia, ''the Queen's grandson and granddaughter'' (representing the German Emperor) *** 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 Frederick Charles Louis Constantine, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse (german: Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin Prinz und Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel; fi, Fredrik Kaarle; 1 May 1868 – 28 May 1940), was the brother-in-law of the German Emp ...

, ''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'' ***

Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife (Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar; 20 February 1867 – 4 January 1931) was the third child and eldest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom; she was a younger sister o ...

and The Duke of Fife, ''the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law'' *** Princess Victoria of Wales, ''the Queen's granddaughter'' *** Princess and Prince Charles of Denmark, ''the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law'' ** '' Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse and by Rhine's family:'' *** 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'' *** Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia, ''the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law'' (representing the Emperor of Russia) ** The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, ''the Queen's son and daughter-in-law'' *** The Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, ''the Queen's grandson'' *** 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'' *** Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, ''the Queen's granddaughter'' ** Princess and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, ''the Queen's daughter and son-in-law'' *** Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, ''the Queen's grandson'' ***

Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (Albert John Charles Frederick Alfred George; 26 February 1869 – 27 April 1931), was a grandson of Queen Victoria. He was the second son of Victoria's daughter Princess Helena by her husband Prince Christian ...

, ''the Queen's grandson'' *** Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, ''the Queen's granddaughter'' *** Princess and

Prince Aribert of Anhalt Prince Aribert Joseph Alexander of Anhalt (18 June 1866 – 24 December 1933) was regent of Anhalt from September to November 1918 on behalf of his underage nephew Joachim Ernst, Duke of Anhalt. As regent, following the German revolution, he abdic ...

, ''the Queen's granddaughter and grandson-in-law'' (representing the Duke of Anhalt) ** The 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 Victoria 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'' *** Prince Alexander of Battenberg, ''the Queen's grandson'' *** Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, ''the Queen's granddaughter'' *** Prince Leopold of Battenberg, ''the Queen's grandson'' *** Prince Maurice of Battenberg, ''the Queen's grandson'' ''Other descendants of the Queen's paternal grandfather,

and their families:'' * The Duke of Cambridge, ''the Queen's first cousin'' * The Grand Duchess and Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, ''the Queen's first cousin and her husband'' * The Duchess and

Duke of Teck Duke of Teck is a title which was created twice in Germanic lands. It was first borne from 1187 to 1439 by the head of a cadet line of the Kingdom of Germany, German ducal House of Zähringen, known as the "first House of Teck". The ''caput'' of ...

, ''the Queen's first cousin and her husband'' **

and Princess Adolphus of Teck, ''the Queen's first cousin once removed and his wife'' ** Prince Francis of Teck, ''the Queen's first cousin once removed'' **

Prince Alexander of Teck Major General Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George; born Prince Alexander of Teck; 14 April 1874 – 16 January 1957), was a British Army commander and major-general who served as Governor- ...

, ''the Queen's first cousin once removed'' * Princess Frederica of Hanover and Baron Alphons von Pawel-Rammingen, ''the Queen's first cousin once removed and her husband'' * The Hon. Aubrey FitzClarence, ''the Queen's first cousin twice removed (and great-grandson of King William IV)''

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'' * The Prince and Princess of Naples (representing the

King of Italy King of Italy ( it, links=no, Re d'Italia; la, links=no, Rex Italiae) was the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The first to take the title was Odoacer, a barbarian military leader ...

) * Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (representing the Emperor of Austria) * The Crown Prince of Siam (representing the King of Siam) * Prince Mahit of Siam * Prince Albert of Prussia, regent of the Duchy of Brunswick * Prince Valdemar of Denmark (representing the King of Denmark) *

Prince Arisugawa Takehito was the 10th head of a cadet branch of the Japanese imperial family and a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Early life Prince Takehito was born in Kyoto as a scion of the house, one of the ''shinnōke'' branches of the Imperial ...

(representing the

Emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the ...

) * The Duke of Närke (representing the King of Sweden and Norway) * Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia * Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (representing the Prince Regent of Bavaria) * Prince Frederick, Duke of Saxony (representing the King of Saxony) * The Duke of Porto (representing the King of Portugal) *

Duke Albrecht of Württemberg Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are rank ...

(representing the King of Württemberg) * The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (representing the

Grand Duke of Luxembourg The Grand Duke of Luxembourg ( lb, Groussherzog vu Lëtzebuerg, french: Grand-duc de Luxembourg, german: Großherzog von Luxemburg) is the monarchical head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it ...

) * Prince Amir Khan of Persia (representing the

Shah of Persia Iranian monarchism is the advocacy of restoring the monarchy in Iran, which was abolished after the 1979 Revolution. Historical background Iran first became a constitutional monarchy in 1906, but underwent a period of autocracy during the year ...

) * The Hereditary Prince of Montenegro (representing the Prince of Montenegro) * The Prince and Princess of Bulgaria * Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha *

Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (6 December 1867 – 11 October 1922), known in Brazil as Dom Augusto Leopoldo, was a prince of the Empire of Brazil and of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry. He was the second of four son ...

and

Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar ( Lady Augusta Katherine Gordon-Lennox; 14 January 1827 – 3 April 1904) was a British aristocrat whose marriage to Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar made her a kinswoman of the British Royal Family and a member of the ...

* Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (representing the

Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (german: Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach) was a historical German state, created as a duchy in 1809 by the merger of the Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach, which had been in personal union since 1741. It was raised ...

) * Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik (representing the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan) * Prince Charles de Ligne (representing the King of Belgium)

Gallery

File:Stamp Canada 1897 5c.jpg, Canada 5-cent Diamond Jubilee

stamp Stamp or Stamps or Stamping may refer to: Official documents and related impressions * Postage stamp, used to indicate prepayment of fees for public mail * Ration stamp, indicating the right to rationed goods * Revenue stamp, used on documents ...

, 1897 File: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 Helen Thornycroft (1848 – 11 November 1937) was an English painter and watercolourist of the Victorian era. Biography Born in London, she was a member of the Thornycroft family of sculptors, which included her maternal grandfather John Fr ...

File:Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Service, 22 June 1897.jpg, ''Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Service, 22 June 1897'' by

Andrew Carrick Gow Andrew Carrick Gow (15 or 18 June 1848 – 1 February 1920) was a British painter who painted scenes from British and European history as well as portraits and genre. Biography Born in London in 1848, Gow studied at Heatherley's School o ...

File:Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clock.jpg, Clock Tower in

Exmouth Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe and southeast of Exeter. In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the 5th most populous settlement in Devon. Hi ...

erected in 1897, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria File:'In Honour of our Queen'- Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Review at Spithead, 26 June 1897 RMG BHC0645.tiff, 'In Honour of our Queen': Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Review at Spithead, 26 June 1897 File:Queen Victoria 60. crownjubilee.jpg, Victoria in her official Diamond Jubilee photograph by W. & D. Downey File:Jubilee crown Victoria Avenue 1897 Jersey.jpg, Victoria Avenue Jubilee Crown erected in

Jersey Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label= Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the ...

for Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, 1897 File:Diamond Jubilee programme Toronto 1897.jpg, Front cover of a programme for a musical event held at Exhibition Park on June 22, 1897, Toronto, Ontario, Canada in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee File:Halifax NS-02375 - Victoria Jubilee Fountain (28446331143).jpg, The Victoria Jubilee Fountain at Halifax, Canada, built in 1897 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria File:Clock Tower, Shanklin Esplanade, Isle of Wight UK.jpg, The Clock Tower at Shanklin Esplanade,

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Is ...

, erected to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897

References

{{Authority control 1897 in Canada 1897 in the United Kingdom Monarchy in Canada Queen Victoria British Royal jubilees June 1897 events