Diamond Jubilee Festivities In May Ahead Of Main Weekend

I just wanted to share a couple of events that have occurred this month leading up to the main Diamond Jubilee festivities this weekend for Queen Elizabeth II.

On May 18th, various heads of states and nations gathered at Windsor Castle before the opening festivities for the Diamond Jubilee which I reported on in my last post. To see the slideshow at the BBC Online, click on this:

In pictures: Monarchs at Windsor for Diamond Jubilee

On May 23rd, the Queen met with members of the arts for a Diamond Jubilee reception in London. There are photos and videos on the BBC Online article about the gathering here:

 

Diamond Jubilee: Arts A-listers gather for the Queen

 

 This was taken by a friend and sent to me of a portrait of the Queen made of LEGO in a London shop window.

Sir Richard Branson & Virgin Airways got into the act with a contest to win a street party for your block.

So that brings  us to the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant which willbe on June 3rd. Here is an artist's depiction of the Royal Barge Gloriana:

 

The BBC has had some spectacular coverage of the barge.

Click here for a fascinating video on the decorations being carved for the barge:

Diamond Jubilee: Decorating the Royal river pageant barge

 

A great video of the launch of the barge:

 

Diamond Jubilee: Royal Rowbarge will be lowered onto Thames

 I can hardly wait to see it and the flotilla on the Thames!

I will be covering more of the festivities later in the week. We still have a few of our Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee English bone china mugs at Time Was Antiques, and we are having a Diamond Jubilee sale!

Honouring Queen Elizabeth II on her 60 year reign! Use code DIAMOND for a 15% Discount on any order over $50.00 through June 6th to honour the Diamond Jubilee!

  

Enjoy your day and get your Union Jack and bunting ready!

 

Queen Victoria's Birthday, Windsor Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Happy Birthday Queen Victoria! Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 so tomorrow is her birthday! She lived until 1901 and was the longest reigning monarch...until our current Queen Elizabeth II who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee year of 60 years' reign this year.

This wonderful portrait was painted by Winterhalter in 1842. I love the meticulous lace. We are all more familiar with photos like this as she went into mourning on the death of her beloved husband Prince Albert and remained in mourning until her death.

 Her birthday was remembered in Canada this past weekend with the Victoria Day celebrations. The celebrations were also linked this year to Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

This last weekend was also the opening salve for the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations with a Royal party for Windsor Castle, the Queen's favorite home. There was an armed forces Muster, Fly By, massed Queen's Guard Unit parade and bands and other festivities including a Windsor High Street walk about for the city residents.

There are Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters at Windsor as well.

As the Navy passes by, they are viewed by military pensioners who live in the area.

I especially loved the manuever of a fly by with planes in the formation of E II R and also in the number 60. The colored trails are so cool as well!
 

This is the massed Queen's Guards regiments which includes the Coldstream Guards, my husbands old regiment. He was quire teary as we watched the YouTube video below of the fly by.
 

 all photos from The Mail Online

I am quite excited about the main Diamond Jubilee celebrations on the weekend of June 2nd. I'll tell you more about them soon.

Here is a YouTube video of the Diamond Jubilee Fly By at Windsor. Enjoy!