Shire Book: Royal Jubilees
In 1809-10 thanksgiving ceremonies and feasts across the nation ushered George III into his fiftieth year as king. This was the first British celebration of a royal jubilee, and set the mould for the five that have since followed: processions, fireworks, construction of monuments, the striking of special coins and medals, and, of course, the sale of commemorative mugs. Queen Victoria celebrated her golden and diamond jubilees in 1887 and 1897 amid throngs of patriotic British subjects from all over the world, and celebrations were also held for George V's silver jubilee in 1935. Following her celebrations of 1977 and 2002, Queen Elizabeth II is the first British monarch ever to celebrate her third jubilee as she begins her sixth decade on the throne. Judith Millidge here describes the handful of British royal jubilees, how they have been celebrated, the similarities and differences between them, and illustrates examples of the myriad souvenir products that accompany these events.