London - Queen Victoria's Jubilee

 In 1897, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee a special service was held in her honour on the steps of the western front of St Paul's Cathedral.  If you look at the bottom of the stairway you will see a commemoration of the event carved in the pavement beneath your feet.

The Queen arrived in a carriage pulled by eight cream horses and seventeen other carriages carried Royal families from around the world and other VIPS.  They were greeted here by a mass of people including a large orchestra, choir, 100 Anglican bishops and beefeaters from the Tower. 

Since the Queen was very frail (she was 78) she remained in her carriage for an out of doors ceremony.

The Queen wrote in her journal,  “The streets were beautifully decorated, also the balconies of the houses, with flowers, flags and draperies of every hue….  A never to be forgotten day.  No one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those 6 miles of streets…The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching.  The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with joy.”

A London journalist recorded:

“It was a magnificent and picturesque sight.  The bright uniforms, the arms gleaming in the sunshine, the spirit–stirring strains of the martial music; the dark-visaged soldiers form Asia and Africa, representing and symbolising the world-wide Empire… And what a crowd it was!  The Queen herself has never looked upon such a sight.”

Similar services were held for the Silver Jubilee of King George V (1935), and Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver (1977), Golden (2002) and Diamond (2012) Jubliees although all of those services were held inside the Cathedral.

This is an excerpt from the FREE tour St Paul's Precincts found on www.obelisktours.co.uk