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On Sunday, Her Majesty will become the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. She ascended to the throne on 6 February 1952, upon the death of her father King George VI. The Queen was in Kenya at the time and became the first Sovereign in over 200 years to accede while abroad.
To celebrate her unique achievement events and initiatives will take place throughout the year, culminating in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.
The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service.
It has now been announced that a commemorative record will be released to mark the momentous event on the British sovereign’s 96th birthday in April.
EIIR: The Platinum Record features the famous soprano Lesley Garrett nd West End baritone star Rodney Earl Clarke, along with the London Community Gospel Choir.
Ms Garrett said: “There has never been a greater need for a song to unite us all than now.
“Covid and its chaotic aftermath has touched every one of us, throughout the Commonwealth and the wider world.
“For 70 years our Queen has been there, the one sure and steadfast rock in our unpredictable world.”
This will not be the first time that the opera star has performed exclusively for Her Majesty.
On her 73rd birthday, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met the singer on stage, while on a tour to South Korea.
READ MORE: Queen makes crowd laugh as she walks off during cake cutting
Ms Garrett had led the audience at a concert hall in the South Koran capital, Seoul, in singing Happy Birthday to the British monarch at the close of a special concert held in her honour.
The Platinum Record consists of two tracks composed by Olga Thomas and Anton van der Mere respectively.
Ms Thomas’ composition, titled The Four British Nations, is an Elgar-inspired creation.
It features state trumpets, and chants and shouts of “Vivat”, “Regina”, and “Elizabeth”.
Mr van der Mere’s piece is called ‘We Thank You From Our Hearts’ and heralds the monarch as the “mother of this nation”.
Caribbean steel drums and an Australian didgeridoo all feature in the music, along with Hindi, Maori, and Swahili chants referencing the Queen
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Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, the founder of the British Monarchists Society, contributed to the writing of the lyrics.
The anthem, which was commissioned by the society as part of its year-long celebration of the Jubilee, will be available on all digital download and streaming platforms from April 21.
The Queen’s long reign has helped to maintain the popularity of the House of Windsor both in Britain and around the world.
Her stoicism and devotion to public duty have made her both one of the most popular British sovereigns ever to wear the crown and helped to ensure the survival of the monarchy in rapidly changing times.
Throughout her reign, she has sought to implement the ideals established by her grandfather George V – namely “the idea of a monarchy based on dutiful, quiet service and a largely domestic royal family.”
