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Tag: Queen Elizabeth II

  • Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II with new Royal Mail stamps

    Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II with new Royal Mail stamps

    In Britain, eight new stamps celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s dedication to service, have been issued by the Royal Mail to mark the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Queen is just two days away from her 70th anniversary on the throne, becoming the first British sovereign in history to reach such a milestone on Sunday.

    The new Royal Mail stamps feature photographs of Queen Elizabeth throughout the decades of her reign, illustrating the different facets of her official duties, from Trooping the Colour and walkabouts on home soil to worldwide tours.

    The images range from 1957 to 2020, and the earliest, in black and white, appears on a 1st class stamp and shows the young Queen alongside the Duke of Edinburgh as the monarch smiles and waves during a tour to Washington DC , U.S.A

    This Jubilee would poignantly be the first the monarch has commemorated without Philip, who died in April.

    The other 1st class stamps include the Queen smiling, in a burgundy outfit and hat, during a visit to the MI5 headquarters in February 2020; on a walkabout in Worcester in April 1980.

    She would be saluting in uniform and on horseback during 1978 Trooping the Colour.

    The monarch’s changing fashion over the years was captured in a 1966 photograph on a 1.70 dollars’ stamp, in which she wears a feathered 1960s style hat and a shift dress in Victoria Park, St Vincent, while on a tour of the West Indies.

    The further three 1.70 dollars’ stamps are from the Queen’s tour of the Provincial Museum of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada in May 2005.

    The Queen met flag-waving well-wishers during a Silver Jubilee walkabout in Camberwell in June 1977, and in her Order of the Garter robes in 1999.

    Simon Thompson, chief executive of the Royal Mail, said, “These stamps are a celebration of the second Elizabethan Age and a tribute to a remarkable lifetime of duty and public service.

    “We are honoured to be releasing them to mark the occasion of the first Platinum Jubilee in the UK’s history, a momentous occasion.’’

    The Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees were also marked with special stamp issues.

    None of the new sets included the silhouette of the Queen normally required on special stamps.

    Because the Queen’s image was used in the actual design of the stamp, this removed the need for the silhouette, the Royal Mail said.

    While the Queen’s Accession Day falls on Feb. 6, national celebrations were being held on a special four-day bank holiday weekend in June, with festivities including a pop concert at the Palace, a service of thanksgiving and a pageant on The Mall.

    The monarch is currently staying on the Sandringham Estate, where she will remain for the anniversary, which simultaneously marks the death of her father George VI and the moment she became Queen in 1952.

  • Buckingham Palace reveals programme to celebrate Queen’s platinum jubilee

    Buckingham Palace reveals programme to celebrate Queen’s platinum jubilee

    Buckingham Palace has unveiled the full programme of events to celebrate the British queen’s platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.

    The celebrations will include the 95-year-old monarch opening her private estates to the public and some of the world’s biggest stars performing outside Buckingham Palace in London.

    It was not clear which events Queen Elizabeth II would attend or take part in as she was ordered to rest by doctors in October last year, following an overnight hospital stay for unspecified preliminary investigations.

    The bulk of the jubilee duties was thought to likely be given to the rest of the royal family, including Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cornwall.

    The Queen usually spent the anniversary of her accession privately at Sandringham.

    Official jubilee celebrations would begin on Monday when Fortnum & Mason launches the Platinum Pudding Competition to find a dish to dedicate to the queen’s reign.

    Recipes would be judged by an expert panel including “Great British Bake Off” star Mary Berry.

    It was hoped that it would serve as a long-lasting reminder, alongside the queen’s Green Canopy initiative, which would continue to plant new trees to present to her at the end of the year.

    From May 12 to 15, more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers were expected to take part in a show in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which would take the audience through history from Elizabeth I to the present day.

    More ceremonies are to take place later in the year, starting on Thursday, June 2, the first day of the special four-day bank holiday, when the queen’s birthday parade, known as “Trooping the Colour,’’ would take place in Horse Guards Parade.

    On the same day, the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories would come together to light a beacon at the same time as the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace.

    On Friday, June 3, a service of thanksgiving for the queen’s reign would be held at St Paul’s Cathedral, before the star-studded Platinum Party at The Palace on Saturday, June 4.

    Performers have yet to be named but it was being billed as bringing together some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment.

    People across the country would sit down together for the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday, June 5, the final day of the bank holiday break.

    Sandringham and Balmoral would also be open for residents and visitors to enjoy the celebrations across the long weekend.

    Performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers will tell the story of the queen’s reign in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which will see a River of Hope, made up of 200 silk flags make its way along the Mall.

    School children across the country have been invited to create a picture of their hopes for the planet over the next 70 years, and some of their designs would be put on to the flags.

    From July, three displays marking the queen’s accession to the throne, the Coronation and jubilees would be put on at the official royal residences.

  • Biden becomes 13th serving U.S. president to meet Queen of England during her reign

    Biden becomes 13th serving U.S. president to meet Queen of England during her reign

    U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Sunday met with Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the 13th serving U.S. president to meet with the Queen of England during her reign.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports both President Biden and the First Lady met with Queen Elizabeth II inside Windsor Castle, after the conclusion of the G7 Summit.

    To welcome the Bidens, the Queen treated them to an honor guard formed of the Grenadier Guards in the castle’s famous quad and the US National Anthem was played.

    The President also inspected the troops and then rejoined the Queen and first lady to watch the military march-past.

    TNG reports the President and First Lady also joined Her Majesty for tea in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle.

    Meeting the Queen during her reign, Biden joined a legacy of American leaders paying their respects to a global icon and living piece of history.

    Biden is the fifth president the Queen has hosted at Windsor, according to CNN.

    Today’s meeting is the Queen’s first one-on-one engagement with a world leader since the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic began.

    And it’s among her first public engagements since her husband, Prince Philip, died at 99 earlier this year.

  • Queen Elizabeth II marks first birthday without Philip in 73 years

    Queen Elizabeth II marks first birthday without Philip in 73 years

    The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II will remain at Windsor Castle to mark her birthday during a period of Royal Mourning following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports today is The Queen’s 95th birthday and there will be no public celebration to mark the day, according to royal sources.

    The reigning monarch is understood to have “no plans” to mark the event, which is her first birthday without her husband Prince Philip in 73 years.

    Last year, a gun salute to mark the Queen’s 94th birthday, which usually takes place at Hyde Park and the Tower of London in the capital, was cancelled as the queen felt it was not appropriate during the pandemic.

    It is not clear if the annual celebration for her official birthday, known as Trooping the Colour, will take place in June.

    Philip, who was also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, was laid to rest on Saturday in a military-style funeral after he died on April 9 aged 99.

    After his death was announced, Britain entered a week-long period of mourning which ended after his funeral on Saturday.

    The royal family has a two-week period of mourning, which ends on April 23.

    Prince Harry, the queen, and Prince Philip’s grandson, flew in from Los Angeles to attend the funeral.

    He was reunited with his family for the first time since his bombshell interview with Oprah where he revealed why he stepped down as a senior royal.

    A spokesperson for Prince Harry declined to say if the prince remained in England to celebrate her birthday, however, British newspaper The Telegraph said he was expected to fly back on Tuesday or Wednesday.

  • JUST IN: Royal Family shelves agelong traditions after death of Prince Philip

    JUST IN: Royal Family shelves agelong traditions after death of Prince Philip

    Buckingham palace has announced the Royal Family will not be following certain agelong traditions as the United Kingdom (UK) mourns the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports as the world joins the UK to mourn the passing of Prince Philip, Buckingham palace said the traditions would not be observed as a result of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

    In a statement, the Royal Family announced that Books of Condolence will not be available for the public to sign and that the tradition of leaving floral tributes in memory of The Duke will not be observed.

    The statement reads: “During the current public health situation, Books of Condolence will not be available for the public to sign.

    “The Royal Family ask that members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of The Duke”.

    TNG reports the Royal Family advised those who wish to send a personal message of condolence to visit the Royal website for an online Book of Condolence.

  • Representing me in Nigeria is world’s best job — Queen Elizabeth tells New High Commissioner

    Queen Elizabeth II has described the posting of the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Liang as having the best job in the world.

    The new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Liang, made the disclosure on Thursday night at an event to celebrate the Queen’s 93rd birthday in Lagos.

    Liang, who said that she had always craved to work in Nigeria, added that the Queen was also happy with her posting to Nigeria as British High Commissioner.

    “This is the job that I have always expected. This is a job I have always wanted. I am actually excited to be in it.

    “When I told the Queen about my posting, the Queen said to me, `You have the best job in the world’ representing me in Nigeria,” she said.

    The high commissioner said that she was hugely excited to be in Lagos with her husband, Clive, for the celebration of a most remarkable woman, Her Majesty, the Queen with Nigerians and others.

    Liang said that the Queen for 66 years was committed to her role across the Commonwealth, adding that the Royal family would continue to attach importance to Nigeria.

    “Tonight, we’re celebrating the birthday of a most remarkable woman, Her Majesty the Queen. As you know, she has been our Queen for 66 years and she remains committed to her role across the Commonwealth.

    “The visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in November last year demonstrates the importance that the royal family attaches to Nigeria,” she said.

    Liang described Lagos State as truly being entrepreneurial, creative and vibrant heart of Nigeria, adding that she was already feeling inspired and energised by the many Lagosians she had met.

    She commended the different companies that sponsored the Queen’s Birthday Party at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos, noting that they embodied all that is best about U.K. and Nigeria.

  • Prince Charles promises to be less outspoken if he becomes King

    Prince Charles has promised to tone down his public comments on environmental and other issues if he succeeds his 92-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as Britain’s monarch.

    Speaking in a BBC documentary to be aired later on Thursday, Charles dismissed as “nonsense’’ fears that he could continue to intervene in issues he cares about, if he becomes king.

    Asked about concerns that he had been “meddling’’ by speaking out over several decades on issues such as the environment, urban development and wildlife protection, Charles said he had tried to be “non-party political’’ and would accept the “constitutional parameters’’ of a monarch.

    “I think it’s vital to remember there’s only room for one sovereign at a time, not two,’’ he said in the one-hour programme ahead of his 70th birthday Nov. 14.

    “So, you can’t be the same as the sovereign if you’re the Prince of Wales or the heir,’’ Charles added, using one of his official titles.

    “But the idea, somehow, that I’m going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed the queen, is complete nonsense because the two situations are completely different.’’

    Asked whether his public campaigning would continue, Charles told the broadcaster: “No, it won’t. I’m not that stupid.’’

    In an earlier clip from the programme, Prince Harry, the youngest of Charles’ two sons, said that when he and his brother, Prince William, were children their father had made them pick up litter to show the importance of environmental protection.

     

  • Sapphire jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II makes history

    Sapphire jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II makes history

    Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on the 6th of February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.

    Today, February 6th marks 65 years since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. She became UK’s longest reigning monarch in 2015 after overtaking Queen Victoria.

    There will be no big festival to mark this milestone. Grand jubilee celebrations are to be reserved for the platinum jubilee when the queen gets to mark 70 years on the throne and that will be in five years time. By that time, the queen will be 96 years old.