Queen Elizabeth II: A life in milestones

Silver Jubilee 1977

Millions of Britons enjoyed street parties, there was a commemorative mug for every child, and the crowds turned out in force to cheer the royal couple.

The Queen and Philip embarked on a whirlwind tour of Britain and the Commonwealth, visiting 36 countries and covering 56,000 miles. One of their engagements saw them sail aboard the royal yacht Britannia up the River Humber to visit Yorkshire.

On June 6, she lit a beacon at Windsor Castle which was the signal for beacons to be lit across the entire country.

The following day, a million people lined the streets of London to cheer the Queen as she drove to a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s, with US President Jimmy Carter amongst the congregation, followed by a lunch at The Guildhall.

The Queen told her audience: “When I was twenty-one I pledged my life to the service of our people and I asked for God's help to make good that vow.

“Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgement, I do not regret nor retract one word of it.”

Ruby Jubilee 1992

This marked the Queen’s 40th anniversary of succeeding to the throne, but commemorations were low-key because the Royal Family was having a torrid time and the year became better known as the “annus horribilis”, one of the most difficult of her reign.

The marriages of three of her four children were in tatters. The Princess Royal divorced, the Duke and Duchess of York separated and the Prince and Princess of Wales were irreconcilable.

Andrew Morton’s book, Diana: Her True Story, alleged that Diana was deeply unhappy and had attempted suicide.

Then came a devastating fire at Windsor Castle. Public opinion turned against the royals amid fears that taxpayers would have to foot the bill.

The Queen announced that she would pay tax on her income and cut down the size of the Civil List. In an unusually personal address at London Guildhall in November she told guests: “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.”

She added: “In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an ‘annus horribilis’.”

Golden Jubilee 2002

The Golden Jubilee was especially significant because it came at the end of a prolonged period of difficulty for the Royal Family. The uncertain and tragic 1990s, with the divorces of the Queen’s children, and then the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, had seen its popularity slump.

The Queen was said to be privately worried that the public reaction to commemorations would be unfavourable, but the country proved her wrong. On June 4, she looked out from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on a million cheering, flag-waving well-wishers packed into The Mall and stretching all the way to Admiralty Arch, giving her the most rapturous reception since her Coronation.

There was a shadow of sadness over the Queen as the year got under way, as within weeks she lost her two dearest relatives - the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

But the affection of her people visibly raised her spirits. An extended Jubilee bank holiday weekend meant millions got an extra day off work, and the celebrations in London were a vibrant blend of pomp and populism.

For the first time, the gardens of Buckingham Palace were opened to the public for two extraordinary concerts. The first, a classical spectacular, was a resounding success, but the second, an unprecedented, star-studded pop concert, was a phenomenon.

The concert, televised live, drew one of the biggest viewing audiences in history, and a million people crowded into central London to watch it on giant screens.

An ecstatic audience hailed performers as diverse as Tom Jones and heavy metal wildman Ozzy Osbourne.

At its end, the Queen joined the performers on stage, where Prince Charles paid her an extraordinarily warm tribute, calling her “Mummy” for the first time in public.

The following day, the Queen spoke directly to her people from The Guildhall, showing she had been deeply touched by the affection shown to her on a long Jubilee tour of the country.

“Thank you for all your enthusiasm to mark and celebrate these 50 years.

“Gratitude, respect and pride. These words sum up how I feel about the people of this country and the Commonwealth - and what this Golden Jubilee means to me.”

Diamond Jubilee 2012

The Royal Family was riding a new wave of popularity, in part because of the appeal of its younger members, particularly William and Kate, and also because the Queen was held in immense affection as the nation’s grandmother and great-grandmother.

In deference to hers and Philip’s advancing years, she made no foreign tour, with younger royals visiting Commonwealth countries in her place.

The celebrations began with an equine spectacular at Windsor in May to salute her lifelong love of horses, followed on June 3 by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, in which a flotilla of 1,000 vessels led by the Royal barge Gloriana sailed down the river – in driving rain.

There was a touch of sadness to the rest of the celebrations for the Queen – a day after the river pageant, Philip was hospitalised with an infection and was unable to take any further part in the official commemorations, including a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s and a giant street party on The Mall.

As she had in 1977 and 2002, the Queen broadcast to the nation and Commonwealth, saying: “The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience.

“I will continue to treasure and draw inspiration from the countless kindnesses shown to me in this country and throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you all.”

Sapphire Jubilee 2017

The Queen became the first British monarch to reach 65 years on the throne – a Sapphire Jubilee.

But there were no grand festivities, with celebrations reserved for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and she spent the day privately at Sandringham.

Buckingham Palace issued a David Bailey photograph of the Queen to mark the occasion. She wore sapphires given to her by her father George VI as a wedding gift.

Platinum Jubilee 2022

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee commemorations in June brought millions out on to the streets of London, even though there was an undertone of sadness because she had lost Prince Philip the previous year.

There had been speculation about how prominent a role she would play because of mobility problems, but in the event she made two appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to tumultuous applause and cheers.

The first was scheduled, but the second was especially memorable. On the final day of the Jubilee weekend, after a pageant through London, the crowds got what they had hoped for all day – a spontaneous appearance flanked by her three generations of heirs, Charles, William and George.

There was another magical moment, which prompted delight around the world. On the Saturday evening, to introduce the Jubilee concert at the Palace, the Queen appeared in a filmed clip with Paddington Bear, before the two joined forces to tap out with teaspoons on the Royal china the opening riff to Queen’s We Will Rock You, the number that kicked off an unforgettable evening.

How profoundly moved the Queen had been by the outpouring of affection was apparent in her message of thanks to the nation.

“When it comes to how to mark seventy 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.

“While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.

“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.”