This year, Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years as Queen of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
Her father, King George VI, died on February 6th 1952. Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, were visiting Kenya at the time, on their way to Canada. They returned to England immediately. She became Queen from that day but her coronation was not until June 1953.
This year, there will be four months of celebrations, finishing with a celebration of the Diamond Jubilee in London from June 2nd to the 5th. Other members of the royal family will travel to a number of Commonwealth countries this year. Prince William and his wife will visit New Zealand in November. The Queen is now 85 and does not travel much herself.
The Queen sent a message to all the people in Britain and the Commonwealth thanking them for the support they have given to her and Prince Philip over the 60 years.
Queen Victoria reigned for more than 63 years, from May 1819 to January 1901.
To find out more about the Commonwealth, listen to November 24th 2007
Vocabulary
jubilee – a happy anniversary
coronation – a ceremony where the king or queen receives the crown
to reign – (pronounced like ‘rain’) – to be king or queen
Questions
Do you know who is the next heir to the throne (the person who will be King when the Queen dies)? It is not Prince William.
Do you think New Zealand should become a republic with a President instead of a Queen?