Sapphire Jubilee of Elizabeth II

The Sapphire Jubilee of Elizabeth II on 6 February 2017, marked sixty-five years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II is the first British monarch to have a sapphire jubilee.[1]

Queen Elizabeth II

Unlike her Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees, there were no widespread public celebrations of the Sapphire Jubilee. Instead, like the February 1992 Ruby Jubilee, the Queen did not undertake any official engagements.[1][2] As then, she spent the day in "quiet reflection" on the anniversary of the death of her father, George VI, and undertaking official work at Sandringham House.[1][2] She attended a service at St Peter and St Paul Church in West Newton, Norfolk on Sunday 5 February, where she was greeted by crowds of well-wishers.[2] Larger-scale celebrations took place in June 2016, to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, and any extensive celebrations would be reserved for a possible Platinum Jubilee in 2022.[2][3] Despite proposals for larger celebrations to mark the 65th anniversary of the Queen's accession in June 2017, including a mooted bank holiday, no such celebrations were held.[4]

Commemoration
A commemorative £5 coin issued by The Royal Mint to mark the Sapphire Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen in 2017.

The Sapphire Jubilee featured blue stamps from the Royal Mail, commemorative coins from the Royal Mint, and a reissue of an official 2014 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by David Bailey.[5] In this official portrait, the Queen wears sapphire jewellery which she received as a wedding present from her father.[6] In September 2017, a new community centre in Collier Row, Romford, was named the Sapphire Jubilee Community Centre in the Queen's honour.[7]

The Jubilee also involved the ringing of the bells in Westminster Abbey, a 41-gun salute by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park, a 62-gun salute by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London and gun salutes in several other places around the United Kingdom.[2][8] Theresa May, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, congratulated the Queen, saying in part that the occasion was "another remarkable milestone for our remarkable Queen. ... I know the nation will join with me today in celebrating and giving thanks for the lifetime of service Her Majesty the Queen has given to our country and to the Commonwealth. ... She has truly been an inspiration to all of us and I am proud, on behalf of the nation, to offer our humble thanks and congratulations on celebrating this Sapphire Jubilee."[2][9]

The Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch

At a celebration of Canada's sesquicentennial in Canada House on 19 July 2017, the Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch was presented to the Queen as a gift from the Governor General of Canada.[10][11]

The Garrard Jubilee Sapphire

In 2018, the House of Garrard continued its rich legacy of sapphire jewellery creations with the unveiling of a 118.88ct royal blue Burmese sapphire presented in a brooch that features the House’s signature cluster setting. The jewel was named in honour of the 65th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, a date traditionally marked by the gift of a sapphire, and pays tribute to the House’s role in remodelling the Imperial State Crown for the occasion.[12]

See also

References
  1. Rayner, Gordon (29 January 2017). "The Blue Sapphire Jubilee: Queen will not celebrate 65th anniversary but instead sit in 'quiet contemplation' remembering father's death". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  2. Furness, Hannah; Boyle, Danny (6 February 2017). "Queen makes history with Sapphire Jubilee: Royal gun salutes mark 65-year reign". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. Silver, Dena (6 February 2017). "Queen Elizabeth Celebrates the Sapphire Jubilee With Lots of Sapphires". Observer. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  4. "Queen's Sapphire Jubilee: Call to mark milestone with bank holiday". BBC News. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  5. Walker, Jonathan (11 March 2017). "Give us a bank holiday for the Queen's jubilee". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2017-03-18.
  6. Burrell, Jessica (2 February 2017). "When is the Queen's Sapphire Jubilee and how will it be celebrated?". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  7. "Green credentials for new centre". The Enquirer. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  8. Vonberg, Judith (6 February 2017). "Queen Elizabeth II marks 65 years on British throne". CNN. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  9. "Queen's Sapphire Jubilee: Gun salutes mark 65 years on the throne". BBC News. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  10. General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  11. "Canada Plus – August 2017". Global Affairs Canada, UK Embassy. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  12. "House Of Garrard Creates 118 Carat Sapphire To Mark Queen Elizabeth's 65th Jubilee". Harper's BAZAAR Arabia. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
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