Remembering our last great celebration of The Queen's reign...

Monday 12 September 2022

Earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee - the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

She was the first monarch in British history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

There were celebratory events throughout the Commonwealth. In the Bailiwick, most events took place over a four-day holiday weekend from 2 to 5 June.

The Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend would turn out to be the last major public celebration of The Queen's seven decades of extraordinary service before her death last week at the age of 96.

Pictured: The public's respect and affection for Queen Elizabeth II was evident in the celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee in June this year. 

Express looks back on how we in the Bailiwick marked her Platinum Jubilee.

The Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Richard Cripwell, hosted the largest public event over the Jubilee Weekend with an afternoon and evening of activities and entertainment at Government House. 

They included a community fete with family entertainment, children’s activities, a tea tent and live music.

In the evening, the focus shifted to London and the 'Party at the Palace', which was live streamed from Buckingham Palace to Government House. 

Pictured: An outdoor party at Government House was a focal point of the Bailiwick's celebrations. Credit: Chris George.

Earlier in the long weekend, there were events at Castle Cornet, including a 21-gun salute and the lighting of the Queen’s Jubilee Beacon, one of an estimated 3,500 Jubilee Beacons lit throughout the UK, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories. 

On the final day of the long weekend, St. Peter Port seafront was closed to traffic for a Platinum Jubilee Seafront Sunday organised by Art for Guernsey.

The parishes and the other islands of the Bailiwick also organised events. 

Among the largest was a Jubilee Party on L'Islet Common organised jointly by the douzaines of the Vale and St. Sampson's.

Pictured: Girlguiding Guernsey's Jubilee beacon at Sausmarez Manor.

Some of the people behind previous Alderney Weeks put on various activities in the northern isle.

These included a Royal Art exhibition, a party on The Butes for the lighting of the Beacon, a screening of footage filmed during Her Majesty’s visits to Alderney in 1989 and 2001, a black tie dinner and cabaret evening, and a party at the camp site.

In Sark, another Jubilee Beacon was lit and there was a street party along The Avenue.

Pictured: Platinum Jubilee events in Alderney. Credit: Ilona Soane-Sands (top) and David Nash (bottom).

The Lt.-Governor wrote to The Queen on behalf of the leaders and residents of the Bailiwick.

Major Marco Ciotti, Secretary and ADC to the Lt.-Governor, said at the time: "His Excellency’s letter is a formal but heartfelt acknowledgement from us all on this unprecedented anniversary of The Queen’s lifetime of service to the British family worldwide.

"It also recalls the islands’ happy memories of Her Majesty’s many visits over the years, including the recent Platinum Jubilee visit in which The Queen was represented by Their Royal Highnesses The Earl and Countess of Wessex."

Pictured: The Lt.-Governor with the winning design in the Platinum Jubilee flag competition run by the States' Committee for Education, Sport & Culture.

The letter was accompanied by the winning entry in the Guernsey Platinum Jubilee flag competition, which was packed in a special commemorative purple box which also included a set of postcards depicting the top seven entries.

The winning flag was created by Ben Le Marchant, a graphic designer at Specsavers, who presented his design to the Wessexes during a visit to Forest Primary School.

As the Platinum Jubilee approached, the winning flag was flown from the mast on the Weighbridge roundabout.

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II waves to fans and is captured onscreen during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.

After the celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee, The Queen issued a message to all her subjects.

She said: "When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee.