Tag: jubilee

What happens when expectant parents are overcome by Jubilee fever?

What happens when expectant parents are overcome with Jubilee fever?

Amidst all the celebrations seen recently with Queen Elizabeth II’s golden and diamond jubilees, I wonder whether expectant parents have felt inspired to mark the occasion? Go back to Queen Victoria’s jubilees and I can find two examples in my family tree.

Queen Victoria wearing her small diamond crown in 1882.
Queen Victoria’s jubilees inspired expectant parents. Photo: Alexander Bassano.

George Juble Bishop was born in Wicken, Cambridgeshire as the last of the 18 children of James Simpson Bishop and his wife Ann (née Bowers) in 1887. This was of course the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee – which kicked off on 21st June. George was baptised the month beforehand.

His mother died when he was 2yrs, and his father when he was 14yrs (in 1901). He appears on the 1901 census living in nearby Cottenham with his older sister Mary Ann Bishop who has since married John Rayment. When he reached 35 in 1922, he is found leaving the UK and emigrating to Australia, where he can be found living in Flinders, Victoria, Australia as recent as 1963, by which time he is in his late 70s.

Arthur Jubilee Barber was born in the year of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee – 1897 – to Reuben Barber and his wife Elizabeth (née Dewsbury) of Witchford, Cambridgeshire.

Arthur was widely known as ‘Juby’ and on the 1911 census, he even appears as ‘Jubilee Barber’ aged 13. It seems that he died in 1959 up in Staffordshire, but this is not for certain – as i seek further evidence to support this.

The name itself seems to have been unisex, with a Jubilee Barber marrying Thomas Hockaday in Melcombe Regis, Dorset in 1850. Perhaps this Jubilee was named after the celebrations relating to King George III’s jubilees.

When a Princess became the Queen

On 6th February 1952, King George VI died, and Queen Elizabeth II began her reign. Elizabeth’s reign is the second longest, beaten by her Great Great Grandmother, Queen Victoria.

The Daily Express front page on Thursday February 7th, 1952.
The Daily Express front page on Thursday February 7th, 1952.

“The King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning”.

Those were the words from Sandringham at 10:45am on 6th February 1952 – the day that Princess Elizabeth became Queen.

Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were staying in the Treetops Hotel in Kenya – unaware that the King had died during the night at Sandringham. At 2.54pm (11.54am London time), the Duke was told of the King’s death and he delivered the news to is wife.

Delayed by thunderstorms, the new Queen and her husband flew back to London.

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2nd June 1953, also becoming ‘Head of the Commonwealth’ – a title held previously and only by her father. Now at 86 years old, she marks her 60th year as Queen with a 1,000 boat strong floatilla on the River Thames through London, whilst numerous community events are staged up and down the country.

Queen Victoria still the longest reigning monarch

Queen Victoria by George Hayter
Queen Victoria by George Hayter (1860)

Queen Victoria still holds on to the longest reign – reaching just over 63 years (1837-1901) – with Queen Elizabeth II now just three years behind by celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. King George III ranks as third with a reign that lasted just over 59 years (1760-1820).

Click the image below for a video of the elderly widowed Queen Victoria arriving at a garden party in her honour.

Video of Queen Victoria at a Garden Party
Click image for a video of Queen Victoria arriving at a Garden Party.

Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1887, and her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Victoria died in 1901, with the throne passing to the current monarch’s grandfather, King George V.