The Courtier: On jubilees

Hugo Vickers | 8th November 2021 | Magazine

The best gift to the Queen is one given in her name for the benefit of the local community

If you are planning to build a new village hall, call it the Jubilee Hall and you will surely get it built. Subtly, the message is that celebrations should be inspired to happen behind the scenes, and then happen “spontaneously”. As I write, it is only 72 days until the Queen reaches the milestone anniversary of her Platinum Jubilee, a remarkable 70 years of reign. Unlike Prince Philip, who was not excited at the prospect of reaching his centenary, there is every indication that the Queen is keen to achieve this milestone, and she is evidently aware that there is still Louis XIV’s reign of 72 years and 110 days to beat. Until very recently, there was no suggestion that she would not make it. But then there was a hint of concern – The Queen looked tired when she returned from Scotland, as well she might have done, having stood for an hour and a half in high-heeled shoes after opening the Edinburgh parliament. We were told she was exhausted, though we were not at first told she had u...

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