In Pictures: The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977

The year 1977 saw Queen Elizabeth II achieve a milestone - she celebrated the Silver Jubilee of her reign as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Head of the Commonwealth.

Church services throughout the nation were held on February 6, 1977. By March, an extensive overseas tour was made, beginning in Glasgow, one that took her to 36 counties, including Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, West Indies and Canada. No other monarch in British history could surpass Queen Elizabeth II’s record of visiting as many country as she did in a span of six weeks!

A Thanksgiving Service was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral on June 7. She was joined by members of the British Royal Family and other leaders, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter and then-Prime Minister James Callaghan.

The celebration was a Commonwealth affair. Street parties were organized in many parts of the country. London alone had over 4,000 street and neighborhood parties all cheering, singing and dancing because the Queen reached this special milestone.

Visit in New Zealand, February 1977. Queen Elizabeth II opens the Beehive with the country's Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. Image from Archives New Zealand. 

The queen in Queensland, March 1977. Here she is joined by Prince Philip, together with Governor Sir Colin Hannah, Lady Hannah, Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Florence Bjelke-Petersen. Image from Queensland State Library. 

The queen visits Washington in the Tyne and Ware district of England. Image from the Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums.

Crowds with Union flags adorn the street of Whitefriargate, Hull,  as  Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet the eager onlookers on the occasion of Royal Silver Jubilee. Also present is Councillor E. Kirkwood, Lord Mayor. Image from East Riding Archives. 

Prince Philip is greeted by the locals who are waving the Union Jack flaglets as he arrives at City Square in Hull for the queen's jubilee celebrations. He is joined by Lady Mayoress Mrs. E. Kirkwood, July 13, 1977. Image from East Riding Archives. 

The queen at Brigg Fair, July 12, 1977.  She is joined by Mrs. M .V. Bean; Mr B. Gardner, schools adviser and organiser of the fair; Assistant Chief Constable Mr. A. Barker; and Chief Constable Mr. D. Hall of the Humberside Police. Image source East Riding Archives. 

Queen Elizabeth Ii in Grimsby. The monarch chats with a group of physically-challenged ladies who have come to wish her well for the Royal Silver Jubilee. By Her Majesty's side is Councillor P. Willing, Mayor of Grimsby. Image from East Riding Archives. 

The queen hosts different national leaders and royalty in London, 1977. Left to right: Pierre Trudeau, Prince Charles (far background), Princess Margaret, Takeo Fukuda, James Callaghan, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Jimmy Carter, Giulio Andreotti, and Helmut Schmidt. Image from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

The queen's Silver Jubilee was a national affair. Street parties were held in the different parts of the country. The image shows the Milehouse Street Party at Fullerton Road in Plymouth.Image from Steve Johnson.