So Aidan has written to ask me what a Diamond Jubilee is.  Did anyone find out?  It is really, really historical--it has only happened one other time to a British Monarch.  It is the 60th anniversary of her reign.  She has been Queen since her father, King George VI died on February 6, 1952.  The only other monarch (king or queen) ever to reign that long was Queen Victoria and she ruled for 63 years.

Here in England there are going to be big, big celebrations this year.  There should be some celebrations in Canada too--after all she is our Queen too!!!

Yesterday I went to the British Library to see a really important document called the Magna Carta.  It was written in 1215 and was signed by King John.  It was the first ever charter that gave regular people rights and freedoms.  It said the King was not above the law, that he had to obey the law too.  This was amazing at the time.  It is the reason we enjoy the rights and freedoms we do in Canada today.  The actual document was kept behind glass in a case that is temperature controlled.  The lights in the room were low to keep the document from fading.  There I was, standing right next to a piece of history--amazing!

The British Library is really close to the King's Cross Station.  Do you know it from the Harry Potter books?  We decided to go look for platform 9 3/4, but guess what?  The station is all under construction and we couldn't get near platforms 9, 10 and 11.  Oh well.

Sorry--no photos this time--I forgot to bring my camera into London with me.  I'll remember for next time though.

Take care everyone!

The Diamond Jubilee

Hello everyone,

King John's Tower at Windsor Castle

It has been a lazy week for me.  I've done a few walks in the hills and I've visited Windsor Castle.  Windsor Castle was really amazing.  It is one of the Queen's homes.  She spends most weekends there.  



Windsor Castle was built in 1078 by a king called William the Conqueror.  The castle has been lived in by the Royal Family ever since.   Windsor has had a Royal Family living in it longer than any other Castle in the world.  Different Kings and Queens added more buildings and improvements, so now it is really big.

Some of the outer buildings at the castle

Windsor Castle is the place where the Queen makes people into knights or ladies of the realm.  It is also where she has big state dinners with important people like prime ministers.  Her dining room table can hold up to 60 guests.  The china dishes she uses are really valuable.  Some of the plates are worth $7,000 each!


This year is a really special year for The Queen, for Great Britain and for other Commonwealth Countries like Canada.  It is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  She is only the second monarch ever to achieve a Diamond Jubilee.  Do you know what a Diamond Jubilee is?  Who is the other monarch who had a Diamond Jubilee?  


There are lots of special celebrations planned for the Jubilee.  Earlier this week the Queen had a 41 gun salute in her honour.  I'm going to find out what other celebrations are planned and see if I can't join in on the fun.  


Take care,
Mrs. McMillan

PS:  Glad Mrs Strickler has joined the chat!!!

On one of our walks