60 Years of the Queen's reign - what defines it for you?

The coronation was a few days before my ninth birthday and I watched it on my grandparents brand new TV which my uncle had bought for them.It had a tiny screen and was in a thick wooden cabinet.My grandma had a few nieghbours in to watch and had made loads of sandwiches and cakes.
My brother had been born a few days earlier and my mother was still in the local maternity hospital.There must have been no telly in there and she was dissapointed not seeing the coronation especially because she asked to come home, but rules then were at least a week in bed after having a baby.
My sisters and I had red white and blue hair ribbons in fact everything was red white and blue.We got a coronation cup and a tin with a chocolate bar inside from school. My brother got red white and blue play beads to go across his pram from the people in our street as he was their coronation baby.

My earliest memory is of the Queen re-opening the Guildhall in Portsmouth on 8th June 1959. I would have been just 3, but I can remember being on one of my parents shoulders waving a union jack amongst a crowd of people. I can also remember her doing a walk about in Portsmouth in 1977 and having a street party with my neighbours and children.
The Queen is a big asset to the UK constant, dutiful, steadfast and a far superior figurehead than her here today gone tomorrow politicians. I don't begrudge her or the country the celebrations this week-end, let's be proud of our country and show it to the world.

What about Wales?

I think that technically they are right! The scots have their omn regalia don't they

Now jingl someone will tell me that I'm nitpicking.

Someone in the estate near me is flying the most enormous St George's flag. OK if that's for the European football, but the Jubilee is a UK affair, though many people (often Americans) still persist in referring to HM as 'Queen of England'.

Just packed DGD1 off to school with book & pics of HMQ, that I have been cutting out of the newspapers, for the class topic on the Jubilee & HMQ. Flags all up in the town and shop window displays getting more royal by the day!

I wasn't here at the time of the coronation and I certainly wouldn't want her job! Whilst clearing my parents home, I found a 1952 coronation tin from Huntley and Palmers and a book on the Silver Jubilee of 1935. It's interesting to look at the pictures and narrative of that time.

I was 7 at the time of the Coronation and in our street there was only one house with a television. Mrs Malcolm invited all the neighbours into her home to watch the procession and service and everybody brought food to eat and we were there all day.
It was a wonderful experience but seeing it later in the cinema was amazing as it was in COLOUR! Each child was given a metal box with a bar of chocolate inside - I kept mine for quite a while. Later the Queen and the Prince did a tour of the UK and they drove right past our house. We were all out on the pavement waving like mad. I felt sorry for some of the dads because they were at work and missed a lot of the celebration.
We have Australian friends with us next weekend and we are going to enjoy the celebrations with them, the family and the village. We are taking a village photo again to mark the occasion and there is a barn dance in the evening. Most of the communities around here are doing something - we're lucky we have a country that can celebrate! Have a great time everyone

With sons a similar age to William and Harry I rejoiced that she gave her love and support to them following their Mothers death.She was viciously criticised for not travelling toLondon soon enough,but her priority was the boys,as it should have been.
Long live the Queen.

Well I wasnt even a glimmer in my parents eye, so missed all the celebrations

My one defining moment was while being heavily pregnant (think beached whale) in 1977 with my first, standing on the quayside at Newcastle to see the Queen who was visiting for her Silver Jubilee, she even said hello to me and said 'I hope you have not stood there too long' I dont think my back has recovered yet

Good girl

jeni Nope again! Just an hour ago...but, being a good wee lassie, I'm about to do as I'm told.

Was that this morning?
Go and rest that hip!

jeni...Nope! Had a mountain of laundry to iron. All done and put away. More washing to be picked from the line, cats to feed, pot of tea to brew and then Mr soop and I will watch Pointless.

PS that special gin is lethal stuff. I partook of one measured double, added lots of ice and tonic, then having sipped and savoured it, promptly fell fast asleep...woke up later and wondered what day of the week it was!

Quite!
soopare you resting that hip?

jeni ...and all bouyed up!

jeni

Prefer it when I'm nautyical[grin

Love it when you're so YACHTY, jeni !

Sailing! And charts, NOT MAPS!

bags and me, only Army. And Marines. Learned by osmosis.

My father bought a television especially for the coronation and we invited all the neighbours in and sat squashed in the sitting room glued to the little (compared with now) square black and white screen.
We then had a super party in the garden and I remember long tables with lots of home baking done by all the mothers. It has very very happy memories for me.
Oh I would be 10 years old.
I enjoyed that day so much I have organised a street party for our little cul-de-sac here and the young families are so excited. Due to so many folk having allergies we are all bringing our own food!!!
changed days indeed

oh, sorry, stock — like those stiff collars people used to wear.