The 70 years of reign of Elizabeth II | platinum queen

70 years ago to the day, Elizabeth II became queen. She does not (yet) hold the monopoly of the longest reign, but that will not prevent the British from celebrating her “platinum jubilee” next June. A host of activities and a pudding contest are on the program. But questions arise: Will Harry and Meghan be there? Will Andrew’s setbacks overshadow the festivities? Will the queen be able to take part, after a difficult year? Pudding, celebrations, discomfort, Thibodeau Rinfret… Here’s everything you need to know. Or not.

Jean-Christophe Laurence
The Press

Celebrations

The 70^and anniversary of his accession to the throne is February 6. But it is at the beginning of June that the platinum jubilee festivities will take place.

The organizers speak of the “biggest” royal event ever organized. According to what we know, historical shows (pageants) are due to take place on June 5 in the streets surrounding Buckingham Palace. A party will also be organized in the palace gardens, there will be inevitable military parades and a series of exhibitions featuring portraits, jewels and dresses of the queen. As a bonus, some 200,000 street parties are announced across the country, during a long weekend with four days off. In short, the United Kingdom will live in monarchical time. Activities are also planned in Canada, although much more discreetly.

Pudding

To your stoves! A pudding contest has just been launched to mark the platinum jubilee. The pudding will be eaten during celebrations across the UK. According to the organizers, participants will have to create a “classic” dessert that fits well with Her Majesty’s “simple and unfussy” tastes.

This competition echoes that of 1953, when we had invented the “Coronation chicken” (chicken of the coronation), namely cold chicken in a creamy curry sauce served with a salad of rice and peas. According to what we know, this alluring mixture is now regularly served in sandwiches.

Big downside: the pudding contest is only for Brits aged 8 and over. The Press protest against this injustice. After all, Elizabeth is also the Queen of Canada…

Record

After 70 years on the throne, Elizabeth is unquestionably the longest reigning British monarch. Imagine: the year of his accession to the throne, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Maurice Richard still played hockey and television had just been launched.

Her closest rival, Queen Victoria, claims for her part “only” 63 years and 216 days of reign (1837-1901).

On the international level, however, Elisabeth is not even on the podium. She is preceded by King Johann of Lichtenstein, who claims 70 years and 91 days (1858-1929), Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who is 70 years and 126 days (from 1946 to 2016), and Louis XIV, who reigned 72 years and 110 days (1643-1715)! Will the Queen ever break these records?

prince andrew

Will Prince Andrew’s legal setbacks overshadow the festivities? This is the inevitable question, as Elizabeth’s second son prepares to be tried in New York for sexual assault and embezzlement of minors, for facts dating back to 2001. The Duke of York was then a regular at “unworldly” parties organized by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, recently found guilty of complicity in sex trafficking, who faces 65 years in prison.

So far, the case had not splashed the royal family too much. But by stripping Andrew of all his military titles in January, Elisabeth made a gesture heavy with symbolism. “At this point, I think it started to hurt the monarchy,” said Penny Junor, who has authored several books on the royal family. This specialist in the monarchy hopes that the coincidences of the calendar will not cause Andrew’s trial to coincide with the jubilee celebrations. “It would be catastrophic,” she says, recalling the ruthlessness of the British tabloids.

Harry

This is the other thorn in the side of the royal family. What will Harry do? Will he come to the ceremonies? With Meghan and their children? Considering himself insufficiently protected, the Duke of Sussex, who now lives in the United States, said he was ready to pay for the protection of the Metropolitan Police of London during his next trip to the United Kingdom. The “Met” answered him with a No resounding, arguing that it would set a precedent, however princely. Beyond the questions of principle, this answer translates well the fed up of the British with the place of the couple, whose whims and the variations pass less and less well in the opinion. “He turned his back on his duties. It has become unpopular in the UK,” confirms Karim Al-Dahdah, spokesperson for the Monarchist League of Canada.

Health

As we know, it was a bad year for the queen. The death of Prince Philip, accomplice and husband since 1947, dealt a severe blow to the monarch, who is not getting any younger, far from it, with her 96 years. Since then, health problems have followed, and Her Majesty has had to postpone a number of public appearances, in addition to being hospitalized for stomach problems. In this context, no one can predict his state of health over the next few months. According to Penny Junor, nothing excludes that her participation in person at the ceremonies is limited. “They’re going to keep his appearances to a minimum. I think Charles, Camilla and William will take some of the burden. They are not the queen, of course, but at the same time, the country must be prepared for the future…”

Thibodeau Rinfret

On February 6, 1952, King George VI died of lung cancer at the age of 56. The queen, who was then on a trip to Kenya, automatically acceded to the throne. Unusual: according to Wikipedia, Canada would have been the first country in the world to formalize the news, and this, a few hours before the United Kingdom (due to jet lag?). The announcement will be made by the Honorable Thibodeau Rinfret (1879-1962), who was then Acting Governor General. Its lyrical text proclaims “with mouth and heart” that the “High and Powerful Princess” has now become “our only and rightful Lady Lige Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen of Great Britain, Ireland and of British possessions beyond the seas”. Then he asks God, “from whom all kings and queens derive their power”, to grant him a “long and happy reign”. Overall, his wishes will be granted.