Diamond Jubilee

There are so many events being held for HRH Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee this year, its difficult to determine what to advise of first.

The Royal Family are all doing their bit to support the Queen in this year's celebrations as they represent her across The Commonwealth with a huge number of official visits and engagements.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex have just returned from a visit to the West Indies. Taking in St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Monseratt, St Kitts and Nevis, Angila, Antiga and Barbuda. The visit to Monseratt will be particularly important to see the advances in the Islands recovery from the devastating volcanic eruption of November 2010. However, following research within the last week, it would appear that further action may arrive without much introduction following a small volcanic eruption on 12 March 2012.

Other family members continue to represent HRH Queen Elizabeth II all over the World. The Duke of Kent is visiting the Falkland Islands and Uganda and the Duke of Gloucester is visiting the British Virgin Islands and then on to Malta. The Queens other children will also represent their mother's interests: The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are to visit Australia, Canada, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, the Duke of York will go to India and HRH The Princess Royal will visit Mozambique and Zambia.

The Queen herself will be following a sizeable itinerary of events in the run-up to the Jubilee weekend and beyond. Starting with her visit to Leicester in early March, her next official visit is to Manchester and Salford this weekend and then onto North London later next Thursday. Full details of the areas she is to visit are on the official website www.thediamondjubilee.org

There are also a number of other events being held in her honour. One of the largest events to be held in the BBC Queens Diamond Jubilee concert on Monday 4th June 2012. Representatives from the world of music will come together to celebrate this momentous occasion. Artists include Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney as well as some new stars like JLS and Jessie J. There will also be classical contributions from Alfie Boe and Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang. The show will be televised but all the members of the public are selected following their registration for the chance to attend this show.

There have been two new photographic portraits commissioned for the Jubilee of the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh taken in December 2011. These will be made available to the public shortly.

A network of 2012 beacons will be lit by communities across the UK including the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and British Overseas Territories and The Commonwealth. The Queen will light the National Beacon following a service of thanksgiving more details of this wonderful event will be in the following piece.

So, if you plan an event either with family and friends or a large social gathering like a street party and want to include some magical fireworks, simply give us a call or pop over to see us. We have products for collection to suit every pocket and a wonderful bespoke pack for the larger event. For more details on our fabulous Diamond Jubilee pack is available on our website - Diamond Jubilee Fireworks.

HERE SOME INTERESTING FACTS:

The First official investiture of HRH Queen Elizabeth II took place on the 27th of February 1952, where she presented the Victoria Cross to Private William Speakman for his valour in the Korean War, since then she has given Royal Assent to over 3,500 acts of parliament, given regular audiences to 12 prime ministers, and sent a whopping 540,000 telegrams to couples celebrating 60 years of marriage.

She has also personally answered around three million five hundred thousand letters and postcards.

No two days in the Queens life are ever the same, starting at her desk where she will read the daily newspapers, approximately 200-300 public letters arrive each day, she will choose a selection to read herself and arrange her private sectaries (of which she has two to cope with the huge workload), and advise her staff how she would like them answered.

Her Majesty is well known for being a keen animal lover (owning 30 Corgi’s during her life), and a thoroughbred horse owner and trainer. She is known to be very good at this having won races at Royal Ascot on a number of occasions. There was a notable double on 18 June 1954 when Landau won the Rous Memorial Stakes and a stallion called Aureole won the Hardwicke Stakes, and in 1957, the Queen had four winners during Ascot week.

A little-known fact is that she is reputedly a very good Scottish country dancer. Each year during her stay at Balmoral Castle, the Queen gives dances known as Gillies' Balls, for neighbours, estate staff and members of the local community.

There have been only three other heads of state while Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne to celebrate 60 years in power; these are Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 2006, the former sultan of Johor, now part of Malaysia in 1955, and the late Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1986.

To celebrate this fantastic feat, Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber are to work together to compose a special song in commemoration of her 60 Year Reign. Gary Barlow will be jetting around the world to find out what influence Her Majesty has on her loyal commonwealth subjects, which comprises of fifty-four independent sovereign states. As there is a good chance Gary may be visiting the Seychelles, Barbados, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, if he needs a hand with his luggage we have plenty volunteers here at Epic H.Q.

Having once met royalty, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (at my army passing out parade in 1979, who enquired “what’s the food like”), I like many others would think there is a lot of etiquette to greeting a royal but surprisingly it is not the case, Before meeting Her Majesty, many people ask how they should behave. The simple answer is that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour - just courtesy. However, many people wish to observe the traditional forms of greeting. For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsey. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way. On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'. This should be pronounced as in jam, not harm.

So if you’re lucky enough to be one of the 1.5 million people to be invited to one of the queens garden parties, just bear this in mind as treason still carries the death penalty.

Being possibly the most well-known woman on the planet has its drawbacks, of course, it’s not like she could pop down to her local KFC without a fuss, but I suppose it’s not a big price to pay, especially when you receive invitations to attend some of the world’s biggest fireworks displays.

Celebrations included visits to Jamaica, New Zealand, Australia and Canada; a tour throughout the UK, visiting 70 cities and towns; and a national weekend of celebrations, including two enormous concerts held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

Honestly, how many of us would have been able to continue on such a tiring schedule, in her advancing years. Not me for one, she really is one of a kind, and long may she continue to inspire us.

God Save The Queen.