Pictured above are the scenes in Windsor High Street on June 3rd as The Parade passed The Guildhall, watched by the Queen.

Information Page

The Golden Jubilee of
The Queen's Accession to The Throne

The Band of the Coldstream Guards who feature prominently during the Golden Jubilee celebrations

A Note about Dates

King George VI died on 6th February 1952 whilst Princess Elizabeth was away in Kenya with the Duke of Edinburgh. As tradition requires, the monarch accedes to the throne instantly. At no time is the country left without a monarch. It is for this reason that the monarch's flag, The Royal Standard, can never fly at half mast.
George VI's funeral was held at Windsor Castle in St George's Chapel on 15th February 1952. The Queen's Coronation took place more than a year after The Accession on 2 June 1953. Naturally it would be inappropriate to celebrate The Accession on the anniversary of the King's, her father's, death and so a date in early summer was selected. The 25th Anniversary, The Silver Jubilee, was also celebrated in June.
The Proclamation of the Accession to the Throne. Story and pictures

The Queen's Jubilee Message

Prince Philip and I have been deeply touched by the many kind messages about the Golden Jubilee.
This anniversary is for us an occasion to acknowledge with gratitude the loyalty and support which we have received from so many people since I came to the Throne in 1952. It is especially an opportunity to thank all those of you who help others in your own local communities through public or voluntary service. I would like to think that your work will be particularly recognised during this Jubilee year.
I hope also that this time of celebration in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth will not simply be an occasion to be nostalgic about the past. I believe that, young or old, we have as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride.
I send my warmest good wishes to you all.

ELIZABETH R

6th February, 2002

The Jubilee Web Site

"On the advice of the Prime Minister, The Queen has agreed that there should be an extra Bank Holiday for the Golden Jubilee on Monday 3 June 2002. The late May Bank Holiday, which would otherwise fall on Monday 27 May in 2002, will be moved to Tuesday 4 June. The dates were selected to allow as many people as possible to join in the celebrations."

"The focal point of the celebrations will be the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 4th June 2002 on the final day of a Jubilee weekend of special events to mark the Golden Jubilee starting on Saturday 1 June. The summer of 2002, from May to July, will be given over to celebrations in every city, region, county, town and village across the United Kingdom." [The Jubilee Web Site contained an extensive list of royal visits nationwide as well as many other related events but is no longer online]

Jubilee Events and Tours

The event was celebrated in Windsor, London and around the country. The death at Easter of her mother, HM The Queen Mother, and her sister, Margaret, two months earlier, understandably meant that HM Queen Elizabeth's engagements altered for a time thereafter. However, The Queen took up her engagements and tours once more in early May visiting first Cornwall, then Devon and Somerset and on 7th and 8th May the North East of England. Earlier in the year The Queen undertook a tour to the Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia.
  After the Jubilee Weekend, 1st to 4th June, the Queen will continue her tour of the UK with visits to North London, Sussex, Leeds, Beverley, Leicester, Manchester and Wales. In October The Queen will visit Canada.

Jubilee Projects In Windsor

Nationwide, some celebrations of the Jubilee have taken the form of civic improvements, reflecting a trend these days for such events to be marked by something rather more permanent than pageants and processions! So it is in Windsor too, and work has been completed on Windsor Town Bridge (1823) which was in sore need of repair and restoration. HM The Queen unveiled a plaque commemorating the refurbishment on Monday June 3rd following the Parade along the High Street.
  In addition, some 40 Windsor companies with premises in the town centre gave their buildings a new coat of paint, including the Grade II listed Windsor Information Centre, adjacent to the Guildhall. The pedestrianised Peascod Street is also being repaired and improved along with properties from Park Street, by The Long Walk, through the town centre to The Windsor and Eton Riverside Station. The last Parish Pump in Windsor, a little way past the Riverside Station, is also receiving a facelift kindly funded by ICI Paints. There was a similar scheme in 1961 to coordinate a facelift of the town centre. Details and pictures here
  There were many other events organised to celebrate the Jubilee, as many as possible of which in the Windsor area have been listed below.

New Gardens in Windsor

New Garden at Windsor Castle

A new garden has been created to celebrate the Golden Jubilee adjacent to the public entrance at Windsor Castle.

Jubilee Garden at Savill Garden

A new garden has been prepared within Savill Garden.

Jubilee Tree Plantations

The Windsor and Eton Society have completed a number of commemorative Tree Plantings around Windsor. The main planting has taken place at Osborne Road Roundabout adjacent to The Long Walk, on the Old Windsor and Staines road into Windsor. Some 35 trees were planted including Japanese Maple, Golden Ash, London Plane, Great White Cherry, Pendunculate Oak, Wellingtonia and Westfelton Yew.
  A second Golden Jubilee Tree Plantation was undertaken at Alexandra Gardens where 10 trees were planted including: Common Hawthorn, Maidenhair Tree, Dawn Redwood, Wild Cherry, Swedish Whitebeam and Common Lime.
  Five trees were also planted in the Home Park, one at St Peter's School, and one at Old Windsor Cemetery, Crimp Hill.
  Supported by public subscription, a list of subscribers has been handed to Sir Robin Janvrin for Her Majesty and a second copy presented to the Mayor for placement at The Guildhall.

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Exhibitions

'A Celebration of Jubilees' Exhibition

The Windsor Local History Publications Group have been responsible for a large number of books and booklets about Windsor for over twenty years, including their annual booklet, Windlesora. This year they are presenting an exhibition illustrating past Jubilees. The Exhibition commenced at The Old Chapel, Church Road, Old Windsor from 17th - 19th May then moved to Windsor Public Library from 20th-24th May.

The Jubilee edition of The Windsor Local History Publications Group is available now. Price £3 + P&P Click for more details

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'Queen and Camera - A Golden Jubilee Celebration' Photographic Exhibition

From Wednesday, 6th February, in the Drawings Gallery of Windsor Castle, there is an exhibition of photographs of the Queen's reign. Both amateur and professional photographs are on display, many not previously published.

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An Exhibition reflecting the Queen's life in Windsor, sponsored by The Windsor, Slough and Eton Express was held at The Guildhall, from Friday May 24th 2002 - Sunday, June 23rd 2002.

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Jubilee Celebration Events
From April to the end of the year

Eton College 'String of Pearls' events

April 24th, 30th.
May 7th,14th, 15th
June 12th, 15th
July 17th, 18th, 24th
September 12th, 18th, 24th

Eton College are organising a number of events throughout the summer, including tours of the college buildings and other events. For more details please email visits@etoncollege.org.uk

Friday, 26th April 2002. 10.30am
Presentation of New Colours

The Scots Guards were presented with New Colours by HM The Queen at Windsor Castle. 'The Colours' is another name for the regiment's flag or banner around which the soldiers gather in times of battle and as such is very significant to every soldier, representing the very 'heart and soul' of their regiment. More about 'The Colours'

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Saturday, 27th April 2002. 10.30am 500 Rolls Royce and Bentley cars belonging to members of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club processed from the Home Park, through the High Street, up Castle Hill and into The Quadrangle of Windsor Castle where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh reviewed the cars taking part. 200 of the cars were later on display in the grounds of Frogmore House in support of the Prince Philip Trust Fund. PICTURES

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Sunday, 28th April 2002

Jubilee Concert, St. George's Chapel.

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4th May 2002

Organ Recital at St George's Chapel.

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15th-19th May 2002
All the Queen's Horses and
The Royal Windsor Horse Show

The Castle Arena and giant stage upon which a full size orchestra and choir performed with The Lion and Unicorn emblems in cartoon form either side with The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery in the specially constructed ring.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show took place from 15th-19th May 2002 with the magnificent floodlit outline of Windsor Castle as a backdrop. In addition to the normal events for which the Horse Show is famous, from Thursday, 16th - Saturday, 18th May, the event featured a night-time extravaganza 'All the Queen's Horses' dedicated to the Queen and her Jubilee. A cast of over 2000 took part, plus 1000 or more horses, in tribute to Her Majesty the Queen and reflecting her lifelong interest in the horse. A video is available. Details here

The Grand Finale of 'All the Queen's Horses' featured the The Gold State Coach, (the Coronation Coach), in all its gilded splendour, pulled by eight Windsor Greys, a sight not previously seen since the Silver Jubilee of 1977. The Queen was present on the last performance on Saturday night and was seen to be enjoying it immensely. The show has been recorded for television and was shown on June 2nd on BBC TV.

The show opened to searchlights and the drone of planes overhead with vehicles of the period gloriously decorated, one dray caught the eye in particular for it was totally covered in flowers. The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery followed with their spectacular display and contingents of horsemen from India, Pakistan and Canada and elsewhere reflected the significant part the Queen has played in the Commonwealth throughout her reign. Fashion, racing, polo, even fox hunting and 'The Perfect Horse' - spectacular in white - were all represented and culminated in the magnificent arrival of the Household Cavalry and The Gold State Coach.

The Gold State Coach at Windsor.
The coach was used by HM The Queen in the Ceremonial Procession on June 4th from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral. SEE BELOW

The final evening of the Horse Show reverted to traditional fare with the Shetland Pony Grand National, The Garde Republicaine from France, another stunning display by The King's Troop and concluded with a very fine Fireworks Display to Music presented by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Click here for the The Royal Windsor Horse Show Web Site.
The Web Site for All the Queen's Horses was closed following the event. (September 2002)

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May 2002 Windsor's Streets Decorated Around Windsor Castle, the streets have been decorated with ceremonial banners in the style of the Union flag. The banners remained until late summer.

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29 May to 9 June, 2002
GB50 at Windsor Castle
Celebrating the Golden Jubilee with Amateur Radio
Royal Visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of the Radio Society of Great Britain, visited GB50 on Monday 3 June, 2002 at 10.30 a.m. The Duke, was invited to send greetings messages around the world. Prince Philip toured the operating area and observed a contact with Jeff Morris 9H1EL located in Rabat, Malta. He was also shown a morse contact in progress by John Linford, G3WGV.
GB50 Web Site and full report

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The Golden Jubilee Weekend

See also The Royal Web Site

The Queen's Concerts 1st and 3rd June The illuminated Palace at sunset on June 1st Mstislav Rostropovich playing Bachianas Brasilieras No. 1 by Villa-Lobos In St James' Park and one of the many large screens The two eagerly anticipated concerts, a Prom (1st June) and a Party (3rd June), in the grounds of Buckingham Palace took place to great acclaim.

The Queen's Concert on 1st June The Prom at the Palace BBC Symphony Orchestra with Sir Andrew Davis, Mstislav Rostropovich, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Thomas Allen, Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu. Principals from The Royal Ballet and 12 year old clarinet prodigy Julian Bliss. What a great success this concert was, in glorious weather too, and 1000s watching on dozens of big screens around Green Park, The Mall and St James Park, many with picnics on the grass, others just wandering around watching the various performers on the giant screens and listening as they took in the sights around Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles' influence could be detected with the presence of Kiri te Kanawa and the great Russian cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich, known to be amongst his favourites. A full report appears here on The Royal Web Site

The Queen's Concert on 3rd June The Party at the Palace Tony Bennett, Sir Cliff Richard, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Annie Lennox, Elton John, Tom Jones, Sir Paul McCartney, Queen, S Club 7, Misteeq, Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) and Pop Idol winner Will Young, were among the stars performing at this the second free concert in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in celebration of The Queen's Golden Jubilee. Just in case anyone was not quite sure of the extent of the affection for HM The Queen, the audience at tonight's concert provided a yardstick - and that yardstick was a mile long! From within the Palace grounds, around The Victoria Statue and for the entire length of The Mall, not to mention Green Park and St James' Park, they came in their hundreds of thousands - the police estimate was over one million - to be a part of this absolutely unique event.   As the concert closed, and members of the Royal Family came onto the stage, what was very plain was the immense affection demonstrated for the Queen and Duke by the performers massed on stage, the lucky ballot winners comprising the audience in the Palace gardens, as well as the crowds massed outside.   A few minutes later, the Queen and Duke came out into The Mall to light the Jubilee Beacon (with a pyrotechnic 'wire-guided' rocket) which was the signal for the stunning Fireworks and Light Show after the concert. No-one watching could have doubted the quite staggering success of the evening, and the personal success of the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and their family. A full report appears here on The Royal Web Site

2nd June, 3p.m to 6 p.m.

WINDSOR STREET PARTY

Street Parties

Street parties took place in Springfield Road, Bexley Street, Devereux Road, Victor Road and in Dedworth and along Eton High Street.

2nd June 2002 - St. George's Chapel

The Queen attended a Jubilee Church Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. This service was broadcast live on radio.

June 3rd 2002

Jubilee Parade, Windsor in the presence of HM The Queen.

Story: Warmest of warm welcomes for the Queen at Windsor

The parade featured 1,500 people of all ages, from 100 organisations and schools with five bands taking part. The theme was the significant events of the Queen's reign. The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, watched the Jubilee Parade from The Guildhall after visiting The Queen at Windsor Exhibition, organised by The Windsor Express newspaper. The exhibition is open until Sunday, June 23rd 2002. 10.00am - 4.00pm, Monday to Saturday, Admission free at the Guildhall.

Completion of Windsor Bridge Refurbishment

After watching The Jubilee Parade from the Guildhall, the Queen and Duke travelled the short distance by car to Windsor Bridge, being met at the junction of Datchet Road and Thames Street by Windsor's Deputy Mayor, Cllr John Tryon, before walking to Windsor Bridge to inspect the newly completed restoration work and to unveil a plaque marking the completion of the refurbishment of the bridge.

Lighting of Beacon at Windsor. 10.30pm. Monday 3rd June at The Copper Horse, Snow Hill. [Story]

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June 3rd 1.00pm, Windsor.

Ox Roast at Bachelors Acre

Story and pictures

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4th June 2002 Jubilee Day National Holiday

Ceremonial Procession from Buckingham Palace
to St Paul's Cathedral

Buckingham Palace, Constitution Hill from 10.00am

This promised to be the Grand Spectacle of the Jubilee Celebrations and so it proved.
  The Procession, featuring the Gold State Coach (The Coronation Coach) carrying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh was accompanied by the Mounted Band, by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, The Sovereign's Escort (The Horse Guards) and members of the Royal Family and Royal Household in open carriages. Prince Charles and Princess Anne rode on horseback in full ceremonial dress.
  From Buckingham Palace the procession proceeded along the Mall, through Admiralty Arch, across Trafalgar Square and past Charing Cross then along the Strand and past the church of St Clement Danes.
  At Temple Bar, the Queen was met by The Lord Mayor of London who offered The Pearl Sword, the handle of which was touched by Her Majesty through the now opened door of The Gold State Coach. This Ceremony of the Sword symbolises the precedence of the Sovereign in the City and is conducted in silence. Protocol required that for this particular ceremony the Queen be seated on the left of the carriage, although in all other circumstances the Queen is always seated on the right.
  A Royal Salute of 62 rounds was fired at the Tower of London by The Honourable Artillery Company under the Command of Captain James Leighton as the procession continued along Fleet Street to Ludgate Circus, Ludgate Hill and up to St. Paul's Cathedral.
  As the Queen processed through the streets of London to the National Service of Thanksgiving, hundreds of thousands of well-wishers lined the route and also gathered outside St Pauls' Cathedral to cheer the Queen on her way.
  After the service the Queen attended a Golden Jubilee lunch at The Guildhall, in the City of London. This was the first occasion when HM The Queen's new State Bentley was used formally.

The Mall, Tuesday afternoon

A Golden Jubilee Festival Parade took place in the Mall on Tuesday afternoon. The Queen and the Royal Family attended. The parade was spectacular, lasting some three hours!
  Towards the end of the day the Queen made a Balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace and watched a Royal Air Force Fly Past also including the Concorde supersonic aircraft in close formation.

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1st to 9th June 2002

Jubilee Week at LEGOLAND
Pageant, Crown Jewels replicas, Treasure Hunts and crown making are just some of the attractions featured. LEGOLAND

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15th June 2002. 11.00am

Trooping The Colour

The Queen attended Her Majesty's Birthday Parade, Horseguards Parade, London. The Queen used to ride side-saddle to this event but these days uses an open carriage.
  The processional route is from Buckingham Palace, along The Mall, turning right into Horseguards Parade. The Duke of Edinburgh, as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rode on horseback to the event, making him the oldest person, at 81, ever to have ridden in the parade. At his side and also on horseback were Princess Anne, (The Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals), Prince Charles, (as Colonel of the Welsh Guards) and The Duke of Kent, (as Colonel of the Scots Guards).
  This year The Colour trooped was that of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, the Colour having been presented to the Battalion by the Queen at Windsor Castle on Friday, 26th April 2002. It was the Colour of the Scots Guards that was paraded during the Queen's first Trooping in 1952. The Scots Guards was formed in 1642 to raise an army for the Charles I's Irish campaign.
  Applause and cheers greeted the Queen as she arrived at the ceremony in the open carriage pulled by two Windsor greys.
  The route was lined by guardsmen at precise intervals of nine paces. A royal salute by the guns of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery was fired from Green Park and the Queen made a familiar appearance with her family on the Palace balcony at the end of the event.

Information about Trooping the Colour

Information about The Life Guards

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Monday, 17th June 2002

The Garter Service

The Queen & The Duke of Edinburgh have attended the The Installation Service for The Most Noble Order of the Garter in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Infomration about The Most Noble Order of The Garter

Monday, 17th June 2002

The Queen hosted a dinner for European Sovereigns at Windsor Castle.

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Royal Ascot 2002

18th to 22nd June 2002

Royal Ascot this year is a unique celebration of The Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Royal meeting was extended to 5 days to include Saturday 22nd June. The Royal Procession took place each day at the start of each afternoon's exciting, and high quality, horse racing.

Royal Ascot Web Site

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25th June to 29th June 2002

Exhibition - Royalty and Windsor. Items from the Borough Museum Collection at Windsor Parish Church.

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26th June 2002

The Queen hosted an Armed Forces Dinner at Windsor Castle.

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Overseas Tours

In February 2002, The Queen visited Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia and will visited Canada in October 2002.

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The Jubilee Celebrations - A Personal View

In 1977 the Queen's Silver Jubilee was celebrated by hundreds of street parties around the country where local communities set up great lines of tables down the centre of selected local, residential roads. Parents and friends provided a sumptuous feast for the local children plus entertainment of all kinds. These were much enjoyed!
  Last winter, there had been a suggestion that this year might be a rather more low key affair with less obvious celebratory parties and the like, and it is certainly true that the celebrations will not be on the exotic scale of those for Victoria's Jubilee in 1887.
  Given the difficulties that have beset the Royal Family in recent years, it is not surprising that some of the UK public claim not to be interested in the event. It seems fashionable at the moment to be 'anti-royal'. Not 'republican' exactly, not even 'anti-royalist', but there is a section of the population that will readily claim to have no time for the Royal Family.
  There is a degree of unfairness in this attitude. The British public will gladly jump on any bandwagon that takes their fancy, repeating any catch phrase that they come across in the newspapers, or on radio, yet not knowing much, if anything, of the work that the various members of the Royal Family very regularly undertake. This element also find it difficult to explain why they have come to their views without resorting to factual inaccuracies and misunderstandings. The most persistent and inaccurate of these is that the monarchy costs the tax payer money, conveniently ignoring the substantial and significant income from the Crown Estates that were presented to the State by the monarch many moons ago in return for the Civil List, (the payments made to The Queen and other members of the Royal Family). The monarchy also contributes handsomely to the UK economy in terms of tourism, employment and general prestige for the country.
  Another fallacy is that we are 'ruled' by the Queen. We are no longer 'ruled' by the monarch, at least, not in the way that the Republicans would have it by implying that the Queen has any power in the day-today running of the country, the creation of laws, or the the deciding of policies. That is the domain of our government. So we are no longer ruled, we are governed by Parliament, our elected representatives, with the Prime Minister being the nation's leader. It is true that the Queen is informed on a weekly basis by the Prime Minister of events, plans and policy decisions. No doubt her views are expressed, and a number of Prime Ministers in the past, both Conservative and Labour, have commented that these were, and continue to be, valuable exchanges. (These are not fawning comments, they are genuine expressions of their value). Little wonder that the Queen has relevant and valuable contributions to make, she has, after all, 50 years experience of home and foreign affairs!
  We would also like to point out that members of the royal family are required to make a substantial number of public appearances throughout the year, many, though not all, in support of the large number of charitable institutions with which they are connected. These public appearances continue to be made well into their 70s and 80s - and even at the age of 101 in one celebrated instance - there are few on this planet who would entertain such extensive travel, public engagements and responsibilities at that age!
  The Queen herself is seen by most of the British in a slightly different light, her reign being generally regarded as near faultless, by monarchists and many republicans too, in terms of her total commitment to her duties and loyalty to her position.
   The deaths earlier this year of Princess Margaret and HM The Queen Mother came as sad blows to the entire Royal Family, there is no doubt, but it would have been The Queen Mother's wish that the celebrations should be a time for a jolly good party! And so it has been - a matchless celebration.
  The Queen's total commitment to her duties and her loyalty was focused upon throughout the celebrations, together with the great admiration that she enjoys not just at home, but also overseas. It was heartening that thousands of street parties took place around the country although for a time in the winter it seemed that this year would not see quite the level of celebration as 1977. We can now see that the great affection for the The Queen and senior members of the royal family remains undimmed.

Long may it continue!

The Royal Windsor Home Page

State Visits in Windsor

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