What Does The Queen's Jubilee Mean?

Victoria Frances Jackson
Jun 14, 2022
2 min read

Updated: May 13

VFJ Pilates | Musings

Red, white, blue… and a whole lot of bunting. But what exactly are we celebrating?

Unless you have been out of the country for a very long time, you cannot have escaped the flurry of excitement around the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the glorious extended bank holiday. Here in Great Harwood, the whole town joined in. Streets were closed for parties, Queen Street was shut down for the Charter Fair, and flags and bunting popped up on every available surface.

At the VFJ Pilates casa, we joined in the fun with multiple Union Jack decorations, themed outfits, and a slightly soggy BBQ on the Sunday (because what is more British than that?).

But what does the Jubilee actually mean?

Simply put, it marks 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, making her the first British monarch ever to reach a Platinum Jubilee. That’s 70 years of service to the British public, which is staggering when you stop and think about it.

It is also likely she will be the only monarch to reach this milestone. Thanks to longer life expectancies and her early ascension to the throne, future monarchs will likely take over later in life, and are unlikely to hit the big 7-0 in service years.

But beyond the historical facts, I think it means something more. It has been a celebration of our monarchy, something deeply woven into our national identity. While others might struggle to understand it (especially our friends across the pond), the Jubilee isn’t about politics or pomp. It is about affection, continuity, and tradition.

Mark Easton writing for the BBC during her Diamond Jubilee 10 years ago said it perfectly: "The British Monarchy is valued because it is the British Monarchy." It's almost impossible to define, but that doesn't stop us loving it, and her.

So I have just one thing left to say... God Save Our Queen.

— Victoria