Today is the 70th anniversary of the queen’s reign, and marks the beginning of her platinum jubilee year. It’s also the anniversary of her father King George VI’s death. In her message the queen said, “When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.” Charles also released a statement acknowledging the momentous occasion that the anniversary represents, in which he said that he and his “darling wife” are “deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish.” This means that Camilla will now be crowned alongside Charles on his coronation day. Previously the Prince of Wales has insisted that Camilla would be known as the first Princess Consort in British history rather than Queen. The Guardian describes the queen’s statement as an " intervention that shapes the future of the monarchy." The queen also paid tribute to her late husband of 73 years Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99 in April. This is the first anniversary of her accession that the queen is celebrating without the Duke of Edinburgh. She said, “I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign.” Reflecting on the goodwill that has been shown to her by people around the world since she became queen at the age of 25, she said, “I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me.” Yesterday the queen attended a tea party on the Sandringham estate alongside members of the local Women’s Institute Branch, where she was presented with a special jubilee cake to cut. (In the end she was videoed plunging a long knife into the cake rather than cutting a slice.) The monarch wore her two platinum Nizam of Hyderabad rose brooches, which were a wedding gift when she married Philip in 1947. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) Today a picture was released on the royal family’s Instagram account of the queen wearing her two diamond ivy leaf brooches, which were a gift from her mother on her 21st birthday. Next up, Here’s Why the Royal Women—the Queen, Kate, and Camilla—Wore Colorless Jewels to Prince Philip’s Funeral
