Commonwealth Governments Celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee
TheQueen’s Diamond Jubileeis the 2012 international celebration of the sixty year reign of Her Royal Majesty, Elizabeth II. Upon the death of her father, King George VI, in 1953, Elizabeth ascended to the thrones of England and the Commonwealth countries. The governments under her reign will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Plans were discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Austalia, in 2011.
TheCommonwealth Heads of Government Meetingestablished The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. This trust will be funded by private donations and voluntary contributions from member governments to support charitable projects and organizations across the Commonwealth. At this meeting it was also decided that all of the Commonwealth Postal Services would issue a commemorative stamp in honor of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It was also planned to have the lighting of thousands of beacons across the Commonwealth on June 4, 2012, to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s accession. The first beacon will be lit in Tonga. The final beacon will be lit by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace at 10:30PM. There will be four thousand beacons lit in the United Kingdom alone.
In January, 2012,Representatives of Commonwealth member governments, met in London. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss their plans to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. A unified tribute to the Diamond Jubilee was pronounced as theCommonwealth Jubilee Diamondto ensure a lasting legacy for citizens of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Jubilee Diamond will focus on women and leadership, culture and connection, education and understanding among young people, learning through Diamond Jubilee scholarships, and youth and service through advancing international understanding and volunteering.
The Commonwealth heads of state and government will have a luncheon celebrating the Diamond Jubilee in London in 2012.
Governments of individual commonwealth countries have also planned individual celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In England, abank holidaywill take place on June 5, 2012. This will result in a four day holiday in honor of the Diamond Jubilee and the Queen’s official birthday which is on June 4. Many celebratory events will take place in London during the bankers holiday weekend.
The Australian Government gave $5 million to The Queen ElizabethDiamond Jubilee Trust, as part of Australia’s commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee.
The Canadian government is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by giving sixty thousandcommemorative medalsto Canadians who have made significant contributions to the country.
In Jamaica, theGovernor-General hosted a dinnercelebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at King’s House where Prince Harry delivered a speech recognising Jamaica’s 50th anniversary as an independent nation.
In conclusion, Commonwealth governments have united to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by establishing The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, as well as establishing the Commonwealth Jubilee Diamond. Individual Commonwealth governments have planned various Diamond Jubilee events in their countries.
