The weekend of 2nd June to 5th June 2022 marks 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II of England sitting on the throne (I spent a couple of hours on the throne once. Uncooked chicken).

Lizzie went from the Princess formerly known as Princess, to The Queen, when her father, King George VI, passed away on 6th February 1952, and on 2nd June 1953, she was crowned at Westminster Abbey at 27 years of age. Whilst no UK monarch has ever been on the throne this long (she passed Queen Victoria’s 63 years and 216 days in 2015), one of Elizabeth's greatest achievements is having a shop named after her in Marietta, Georgia, US in 2012.

Having been born slightly after 1953, one of my earliest memories is of the Silver Jubilee in 1977, which celebrated the Queen's 25 years as The Boss. I was 6 years old, and in June that year, in towns and cities across the UK, street parties and processions were held, and in schools, every child was given a silver coin to commemorate the event. On 7th June 1977 the Royal Family attended a Service of Thanksgiving alongside many world leaders, including Georgia's own President Jimmy Carter and Columbia’s President Alfonso Michelsen . For the after party, Carter brought peanuts. It’s not clear what Michelsen brought, but apparently the party was a banger and no-one slept that night.

In 1992, The Queen celebrated 40 years (Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby….ahhaahhahhaahaa) as The Queen. However, there weren’t that many celebrations that year. It is what the Queen called her ‘Annus Horribilis’ (Latin for uncooked chicken). Charles and Camilla’s naughty phone calls, Diana, Fergie’s toe-sucking with the American chap. Let’s move on.

Fast forward another 10 years. 6th February 2002 marked 50 years of the Queen being on the throne (she does move about by the way. She doesn’t just sit there flaunting wealth and power at the plebs. That’s Boris Johnson). 2002 marked The Golden Jubilee. Unlike the Silver Jubilee, which was in black and white, The Golden Jubilee was in full colour. Despite the beginning of the year not being particularly brilliant (her sister, Princess Margaret, and her mum, The Queen Mum, passed away in February and March), Queenie decided the best way to cheer her annus up was to go on a bit of a world tour. Reminiscent of the John Candy film, Trains, Planes and Automobiles, but without the pillows, she did a farewell World Tour. She travelled to all corners of the Commonwealth, covering 40,000 miles and visiting the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the length and breadth of the UK, and finishing off in Canada. We all waved flags and put money on whether there would be another significant jubilee.

Well, she’s made of strong stuff is our Liz. 2012 saw her celebrate 60 years of total and utter command during the Diamond Jubilee. But, she was tired. All that travelling and partying had taken it’s toll, and she decided to take a break. Fortunately a young buck called Harry was waiting in the wings. Harry was a party animal. Young, rugged, good looking, Harry was the natural successor to the Queen's longevity. He was rock solid. He would lead the Royal Family for decades to come.

Oh.

And now, 10 years on, and despite a few setbacks (Andrew, mainly), the Queen's annus is much better (I’m going to hell). Despite rumours of her early demise being greatly exaggerated, the Party Girl is back. She’s doing an all-nighter at Buckingham Palace on 4th June, with 22,000 people in her garden. It’s going to be mental. Queen, Diana Ross, Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart and Slipknot are all lined up to play. After 60 years of partying, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor is not quite ready to hang up her Crown.

PS - The 80th year anniversary name is Oak. Presumably named after the wood that makes the coff….I’m definitely going to hell. Or The Tower. 

Stop in at The Queen's Pantry and pick up your supplies to celebrate the Platinum Jubliee.