When is the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee, what are the Royal Mint commemorative coins and how is the 65th anniversary of her accession celebrated?
HER Royal Highness celebrates her Sapphire Jubilee today – marking 65 years on the throne.
She will have reigned for 65 years, longer than any other British Monarch.
But when is it, how it being celebrated and is the Royal Mint releasing commemorative coins to mark the occasion?
Here’s what you need to know.
When is the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee?
The Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee is on February 6 – the anniversary of the day she ascended to the throne.
Her reign began 65 years ago today when King George VI died.
On February 6, 1952, aged 25, Elizabeth’s happy life as a young wife and mother of two small children changed instantly when she was told that her father had died at just 56.
How will the 65th anniversary of her accession be celebrated?
For this Jubilee, the Queen will not be celebrating and sources say that she will instead use the day as a time of quiet contemplation to remember her late father who died on the same date, in 1952.
It is likely that any large-scale celebrations will be saved for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
However, as is tradition, Royal gun salutes will be staged in London on February 6 to honour the occasion.
The Queen looked in good health yesterday as she chatted with well-wishers and accepted flowers from children at Sandringham.
The 90-year-old attended St Peter and St Paul church where she was greeted by 250 people who gathered.
She showed no sign of illness and wore a turquoise outfit and hat with black velvet trim.
A 41-gun salute will be fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park at noon and the Band of the Royal Artillery will play celebratory music.
89 horses will also pull six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns into position in the park and a 62-gun salute by the Honourable Artillery Company will be fired at the Tower of London at 1pm.
Will the Royal Mint be releasing commemorative coins?
The Royal Mint is marking the Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee with a range of eight commemorative coins – with one worth £50,000.
The milestone will see coins struck in a range of metals and denominations from £5, £10 and £500 to £1,000.
A brilliant uncirculated £5 piece will cost £13 while a £1,000 UK gold proof kilo coin will set you back £49,995.
A £500 silver proof kilo coin can be yours for £2,050.
All the coins feature the Queen’s image in profile on the main side but the £5 range has the imperial state crown on the reverse, and an excerpt from Princess Elizabeth’s famous speech where she dedicates herself to her future role as Queen.
A £500 silver proof kilo coin can be yours for £2,050.
All the coins feature the Queen’s image in profile on the main side but the £5 range has the imperial state crown on the reverse, and an excerpt from Princess Elizabeth’s famous speech where she dedicates herself to her future role as Queen.
It reads: “My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”
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