Long Live the Queen

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

In 1952, HM Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on the death of her father. In 2012, we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of this occasion. Regardless of what you think of the monarchy, what HM does is remarkable.

To celebrate, there are numerous events throughout the year including a stellar exhibition at the V&A Museum of Cecil Beaton’s photographs of the Royal Family, taken from 1939 to 1968.Many of the photographs in this show have not been exhibited prior to this.

In a speech marking her 60 years of reigning, the Queen says: "Today, as I mark 60 years as your Queen, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years and to tell you how deeply moved we have been to receive so many kind messages about the diamond jubilee.”

Buckingham Palace will host an exhibition of royal diamonds for this Diamond Jubilee, including this piece which is called the Girls of Great Britain tiara.  Also included will be the pieces that HM refers to as “her best diamonds”. Can you even imagine?

The major celebrations are planned for June 2012.