Friday 1 June 2012

Diamond Jubilee: celebrating The Queens 60-year reign

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation which took place on the 2nd June, 1953, following her accession to the throne on the 6th February, 1952. To mark this historic event, I would like to share two original Coronation souvenirs with you.

The Coronation cut-out model book;
The complete story of the Coronation together with cut-out pieces and instructions to make up the following models; Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the coronation procession – comprising - the state coach, four mounted postillions with four pairs of "Windsor Greys, and eight grooms, six household footmen. Three yeomen of the Queen's bodyguard and four mounted horse guards.


I was born in 1948 so have only vague memories of the Coronation. I do remember my mum (or was it my sister?) telling me about several neighbours turning up to watch the ceremony on our small flickering black-and-white television set.

TV arrived in our lives only months before the Coronation and seemed to us to be an instrument of magic. It’s hard to express the grip that children’s shows like Muffin the Mule and Whirligig exerted on our imaginations. I’m quite sure I would have been staring at the screen along with everyone else on the day, but those memories escape me. 

Coronation glitter model book;
Another original souvenir telling the story of the Coronation in words and 'sparkling' pictures.

Back cover - Coronation glitter model book

It’s lovely to see strings of flags waving in the breeze as shops, homes and businesses roll out the bunting for the jubilee. 


I will be taking a few days off over the bank holiday weekend (unless it’s raining!) so it may take a little longer to answer/leave comments. 

Have a great weekend everyone! Barbara 


21 comments:

  1. Your Coronation souvenirs look like they would be wonderful fun for kids. I hope you have a great few days off and hope the weather holds for the big celebrations. I was in London for the Queens last jubilee - what fun (I have duel citizenship since my dad was born in Wales, something I feel very priviledged to have). Wish I were there this year.

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  2. These souvenirs look elegant. I've heard about the upcoming celebrations. Hope everything turns out great. You have a good time off, too, Barbara!

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  3. The Desert Rocks1 June 2012 at 21:43

    My husband watched this at the English Embassy and told me stories of how nice everyone was to him. He was 12 years old. They handed him bags of candy and told them to sit around the telly. He regaled me with tales of how beautiful the Queen was....

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  4. I would have loved the cut out model book as a kid. The only children's book I've seen for the jubilee so far is a Peppa Pig one (which no doubt my neice would love, but it doesn't really stand-up to the books above!).

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  5. I loved books like this as a child. I especially like the "glitter" one! It is amazing to think that is has been 60 years since her coronation! I am sure it was a huge deal then, as it is again now. Great post!

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  6. How exciting. 60 years. I hope it is the best celebration that she has ever seen.

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  7. Darlene Foster2 June 2012 at 07:01

    I wish you folks over in the UK a wonderful celebration. I was also just a little girl but I remember we all got Coronation coins that year. It was a big deal even here in Canada.

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  8. I was wondering what you would choose to post for the diamond jubilee. I love the first cut-out model book. My fingers just itch to make them - it doesn't matter how the years pass, I still get as much of a thrill seeing a book like this as I did when I was a child

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  9. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 10:53

    Hello Alex, You have no idea how much I want to build those models!

    I’ve never been to London for any of the Jubilees. We did toy with the idea of going up today, but the forecast is not looking good – so we will be watching on TV. There are lots of things going on in the villages around, and we are having fun visiting as many as we can.

    Two of our grandchildren have duel citizenship (UK and Australia) their dad (our son) was born in the UK, and their mum was born in Australia – I think it’s the best of both worlds.

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  10. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 11:13

    Thanks Claudine, it’s raining so I’m catching up with a few emails and messages. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, so we really can’t complain. It’s the river pageant on the Thames this afternoon; my seat in front of the TV is already booked! Lots of tea-parties and fetes planned for the next couple of days.

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  11. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 11:22

    What lovely memories! The Queen was absolutely stunning as a young woman, as was Princess Margaret. I wish I could drag back some more memories of that day, maybe they will come to me as I get older. I already have trouble remembering what I did yesterday, so it can only be a matter of time!!

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  12. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 11:47

    I’m sure there must be lots of new children''s books for the Jubilee but being as I sell and collect second-hand ones, I’ve not noticed. I’m sure they will start turning up at the book fairs and car-boots over the next few months, so I will probably start a new collection! I'm always the last to know about 'new' books, unless I read about them on someone's blog.

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  13. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 11:54

    Thanks Stephanie, the glitter one is really pretty. I’m glad it was so carefully preserved, but part of me wishes someone had the joy of playing with it 60 years ago. There is no way I would have kept it in such pristine condition.

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  14. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 12:16

    Hello Donna, I’m sure it will be the best so far! It really is nice to see so many people getting involved – I love all the bunting, flags and celebrations.

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  15. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 12:26

    Thanks Darlene, my brother, sister and I were given Coronation mugs. I still have mine somewhere. Will you get to see the celebrations on TV? Are you looking forward to the visit from Prince William and Kate?

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  16. barbaraannefisher3 June 2012 at 12:46

    Me too, I’m dying to push out the pieces and start building! It’s so very tempting, but as they have survived 60 years, I know I’ve got to leave them alone.

    You might enjoy a visit to Milestones Museum. I loved it and spend ages pointing out all the things I remembered from when I was a child – not that anyone was interested – but I like to share! http://www3.hants.gov.uk/milestones.htm The 'old fashioned' shops reminded me of a post you did about 'the toy shop'.

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  17. I love those books. You're stronger than me, I would have made those models ages ago and then regretted it!
    Have a great Jubilee long weekend. We are getting live coverage of the event here in Australia.

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  18. I agree with you! It would have been such fun to play with! I have been watching lots of coverage of the events on tv!

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  19. barbaraannefisher5 June 2012 at 07:23

    Thanks Michelle.I hope your enjoying all the razzmatazz on TV. I thoroughly enjoyed the river pageant (shame about the rain) and last night’s jubilee concert.

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  20. Darlene Foster7 June 2012 at 04:40

    We watched the flotilla and were so impressed by the Queen as she stood the entire 2 hours in the chilly, damp weather looking so well. We also enjoyed the fabulous concert at Buckingham Palace Again we were so impressed with the Queen. She is an incredible woman and we love her.

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  21. barbaraannefisher7 June 2012 at 23:04

    We were impressed too; she was obviously very cold, and I’m sure her feet must have been hurting, but she did it! The concert was amazing. I'm not sure all of it was quite to The Queen’s taste, but she appeared to enjoy it. The younger members of the Royal family were certainly having a good time.

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx