This year Queen Elizabeth II celebrates seventy years on the throne, her Platinum Jubilee. Her reign officially began on February 6th 1952, on the death of her father, King George VI. Events marking the milestone began in January, and will continue all year, but this month there will be a special celebratory bank holiday, beginning on Thursday 2nd June, and finishing on Sunday 5th June. The Queen's coronation was on June 2nd, the reason for choosing this date, but it actually took place in 1953, so June 2022 is the 69th anniversary of the coronation, but 2022 marks seventy years since her accession to the throne!

The British love of celebrating jubilees and other royal events goes back to the 19th century, to Queen Victoria, who celebrated both her fifty-year Golden and her sixty-year Diamond Jubilees.

Jubilee celebrations really became popular, however, with the present Queen's Silver Jubilee.

The Queen has deep reserves of public affection, and the monarchy has considerable public support.