The golden carriage seen underneath will be the ceremonial centrepiece of the climax of the Jubilee weekend - the pageant that will travel the coronation route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace on Sunday. Weighing in at four tons, ornately carved and luxuriously gilded, the 250-year-old coach is a reminder of long-passed riches and glory, of Britain's one-time dominance of oceans and continents. The Queen rode in it to her wedding and to her coronation, to dozens of state openings of Parliament, and in her Silver and Golden Jubilee processions. In 1977, the year of her Silver Jubilee, she visited 36 different counties of the UK, as well as nine Commonwealth countries. A quarter of a century later, national and international tours marked her Golden Jubilee. A decade afterwards, in 2012, the international travel was left to other member of the Royal Family, whilst the Queen toured the UK.
This year is the Platinum Jubilee of her coronation, her
reign starting on February 6, 1952, and she was officially crowned on June 2,
1953. She married Prince Philip in 1947, and then spent many months in Malta,
where her husband was stationed on HMS Magpie for a few years. At the age of
96, Queen Elizabeth is letting her son Prince Charles take on most of the
official duties, leaving everyone wondering when she would eventually relinquish
the crown for good. Her husband died last year, as their relationship left behind
many memories, touching stories, heart-breaking and often embarrassing situations
by her children, but many blessings along the way.
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