2002 – Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II riding the Gold State Coach.

In the year 2002, Queen Elizabeth II reached a significant milestone in her reign. She celebrated the Golden Jubilee of her accession as queen. Despite the successive deaths of her sister, Princess Margaret, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the Jubilee celebrations pushed through, one that resounded around the world as Commonwealth nations also staged festivities in honor of the queen.

Celebrations for Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee took place throughout the United Kingdom between May and July 2002. The celebrations kicked off after Prime Minister Tony Blair hosted a dinner at 10 Downing Street for her and all her living former British Prime Ministers (Sir John Major, The Baroness Thatcher, Sir Edward Heath, and The Lord Callaghan of Cardiff). The Queen then delivered a speech to both houses of the British parliament at Westminster Hall on April 30. That was the  fifth time in five decades that the queen addressed her Parliament on her own account. In her speech, she spoke of 50 unforgettable years and the changes to British life and society in that time, and highlighted the need of the monarchy to adapt to changes. Elizabeth said she had "witnessed the transformation of the international landscape through which [the United Kingdom] must chart its course" and declared her "resolve to continue, with the support of [the Royal Family], to serve the people... to the best of [her] ability through the changing times ahead."

The Queen of Canada

For the Queen's goodwill visits, which commenced on 1 May, two to three days were spent in each corner of England; The Queen closed out July by touring the East Midlands, and ended her domestic tour by visiting Lancashire. The Queen also hosted a banquet for all of Europe's reigning kings and queens, one for all her incumbent Governors-General, and garden parties at both Buckingham Palace and Holyrood Palace for people born on Accession Day 1952. Street parties celebration the jubilee was organized around the world  and about 40,000 toolkits were given away.

The three-day Golden Jubilee Weekend from June 1-4, 2002 welcomed a million people in London each day. The Prom at gardens of Buckingham Palace featured classical music. There were 12,500 people who came out of the two million who applied for tickets, thus, so far the largest event ever held on the royal property.  A church service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, while family members also attended thanksgiving services elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The Prince of Wales and his sons, Princes William and Harry, was in Swansea; The Earl and Countess of Wessex in Salisbury; and The Princess Royal in Ayr. On  June 5, the entire royal family attended the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. The Queen rode in the Gold State Coach and a lunch at the Guildhall followed the service. At the end of the Golden Jubilee Weekend, the record-number of Britons who came out shattered media predictions that the anniversary would be a flop. In fact, large-scale events  was organized not just in the UK but throughout the Commonwealth realms.

A tour of the realms capped the Golden Jubilee that lasted for about 12 months, a journey that dukle the Queen and Prince Philip to more than 40,000 miles (64,000 km) to the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The Jubilee Year concluded in Canada. In all of these, landmarks, parks, buildings, and  other public structures were named in honour of the golden jubilee. Commemorative medals, stamps, and other symbols were also issued.

Millions flocked outside Buckingham Palace during the Golden Jubilee celebrations.