Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth I

In her 95th year, despite being in lockdown, Queen Elizabeth II is as present and powerful as ever. Juliet Rieden uncovers the courage, humour and intense loyalty of this inspirational leader for our times.

As she celebrates 67 years since her Coronation, we take a look back at what Queen Elizabeth wore for the most important day of her life.

He’s taking the reins!

And she looks fierce.

Does she really need a bag of salt?

This explains a lot!

She was a young woman of 26 with the world’s expectations on her shoulders but on June 2, 1953, Princess Elizabeth had something much heavier weighing her down: a robe so weighty she needed the help of six ladies just to walk. It was the day of her coronation and she was wearing the Robe […]

The British royals have again proved they are a modern family with the Queen’s annual Christmas message to be broadcast for the first time in 3D. The monarch will cap off her Diamond Jubilee year with an address reflecting on the year’s celebrations and the Olympic Games, and viewers with a 3D TV set and […]

Hundreds of well-wishers braved the rain for the chance to meet Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in Auckland today, giving the royal couple a very warm welcome. A large — and very vocal crowd — crowd gathered along the lower end of Queen Street in downtown Auckland to greet the visiting royals. Their […]

As if to underline the fact that this has been a People’s Tour for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, it wasn’t until their final few hours on Australian soil that the couple got to meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott. Prior to a Diamond Jubilee luncheon at […]

The final day of the Australian leg of their tour was all about matters of state and ceremony as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall touched down in Canberra for a reception at Government House and to lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial. But before their pow-wow with the politicians, the couple […]

There’s a military theme in the air as the royal tour hits Sydney and true to Emerald City form the day started on the Harbour. It was quite a sight as Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrived at Garden Island Ferry Wharf from Admiralty House on the Royal […]

Toni Collette and the most recent recipient of the Victoria Cross Corporel Daniel Keighran were among a very exclusive elite of just 20 guests invited by Governor-General Quentin Bryce and husband Michael Bryce to have dinner with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Admiralty House this evening. The royal couple arrived in a […]

Australia put on an amazing show of both power and hospitality today, as Prince Charles enjoyed an afternoon at Bondi Beach. Security was tight, as the menacing 100ft Nemesis police boat patrolled the shore — normally reserved for surfers — and wetsuit-clad specialist policemen patrolled the waves on a jet boat and two powerful jet […]

Girl power was out in force at Government House in NSW today when a unique group of more than 80 women attended the Women of the World reception hosted by the Governor of NSW Marie Bashir with the Duchess of Cornwall as a very special guest. It was an impressive collection of women gathered in […]

After checking out the navy at Garden Island, The Duchess of Cornwall took off solo to a very special appointment at Sydney’s Victoria Barracks. The latest addition to Camilla’s list of titles is Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police and she’s here she to accept the appointment — will we see her […]

As I come to the end of day two on the royal tour there’s one man I can’t keep my eyes off. Always near and looking proprietorial is a dashing figure in a crisp white uniform with gold braid and all the trimmings. No republic please! Australia loves Charles and Camilla It’s as if I’ve […]

Meet the little girl who today charmed a Duchess. Thirteen-year-old Georgina Gallagher from Port Phillip Specialist School, south of Melbourne, was among a group of students who met Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall at the Victorian College of Arts (VCA) this morning as part of the royal duo’s whirlwind tour of Australia. […]

The Duchess of Cornwall continued her Down Under charm offensive this morning, delighting a room of dignitaries and osteoporosis sufferers with her easy manner and impish sense of humour. Camilla met with a select group of dignitaries, medical practitioners and patients at a special event for Osteoporosis Australia at Government House in Melbourne. No republic […]

Prince Philip accidentally flashed his crown jewels in July, Kate’s bikini top fell off in September and Harry’s clothes abandoned him completely in Las Vegas, but Queen Elizabeth has never had a wardrobe malfunction in her 60 years in the spotlight. Come rain, hail or gusty winds, the 86-year-old monarch never looks anything less than […]

Peter, the man who keeps the turf in the mounting yard clean and tidy, reckons there are 101,000 at Flemington today. And certainly scanning the ground from the perfect vantage point of the yard, this place looks packed to bursting. Whether it’s the royal patronage or just the glamour of an impressive international field for […]

Not many women would propose to a man while his wife was standing right next to him, but one Melbourne Cup-goer decided to try her luck with Prince Charles. As the 63-year-old royal and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, drove up beside the track at Flemington, one lady in the crowd screamed: “Marry […]

Leaving the Duchess getting ready for an afternoon of racing at Flemington, Prince Charles is busy out and about in Melbourne on day two of the royal tour of Australia. Temperatures are a little more comfortable — 23 rather than the 38 degrees the royal couple experienced in outback Queensland yesterday for their “bonza barbie” […]

After the uproarious welcome Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall received in Papua New Guinea the pressure is on for Longreach in outback Queensland to deliver. It’s certainly a dramatic and inspired choice of venue for the royal couple to kick off their six-day, five states and one territory, tour of Australia, immediately setting […]

Clarence House has revealed details of Prince Charles and Camilla’s Australian tour, which will kick off at a cracking pace on November 5 as the royal couple begin their whirlwind tour visiting five states in just six days. The Prince and Duchess’ whip around Australia is part of a three-country tour making up one of […]

She was born a “commoner” but the Duchess of Cambridge will one day be Queen – and Elizabeth II seems keen to ensure she is fully prepared for the role. The 86-year-old monarch has taken Catherine under her wing in recent months, allowing her new granddaughter-in-law to accompany her on many of her most important […]

Queen Elizabeth II has spent 60 years putting duty above all else and last night was no exception, with the monarch cheerfully attending a pop concert to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee despite Prince Philip being taken to hospital just hours earlier. The queen arrived at 9pm, and was met with deafening applause from the 500,000-strong […]

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in spectacular style yesterday, leading a flotilla of more than 1000 boats down the River Thames. The 86-year-old monarch was joined by senior royals including Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and his wife Catherine and Prince Harry on the royal barge. Wet weather didn’t stop an […]

Buried up to their necks in sand while the family dog looks on, Charles and Anne look like any other children on holiday — but the dog is a royal corgi and they are second and third in line to the throne. Some 50 years later, Prince Charles has released clips from his favourite home […]

Prince Charles has released a range of tacky souvenirs to celebrate his mother’s Diamond Jubilee, including a stuffed corgi which costs almost $100. Charles is selling the items through the website of his family estate Highgrove House. Souvenirs on offer include a $280 teddy bear, a $150 cushion, a $35 pair of baby booties and […]

Prince Harry is famous for his dance moves, but he’s never shown any other type of musical talent — until now. The 27-year-old royal has made his recording debut, playing tambourine on the Official Diamond Jubilee song Sing. Harry seems bewildered by his musical instrument in the film clip to the song, but plays along […]

Prince Charles is more popular than his son Prince William for the first time in a decade, a new poll has revealed. Public pressure has been mounting for the crown to skip Charles and go straight to William, 30, in the event of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. But Charles, 63, has seen a surge in […]

Queen Elizabeth pays people to wear in her new shoes, her stylist has revealed. Stewart Parvin, who has been designing dresses for the queen for 11 years, has revealed some of her style secrets in an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times. While it seems almost Dickensian to force your servants to get blisters so […]

This year is all about Queen Elizabeth, but the younger generation of royals couldn’t help but steal the spotlight last week. Despite being among the lowest-ranking people in the room, William, Catherine and Harry stood out from the crowd at a special Diamond Jubilee luncheon at Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Cambridge looked particularly lovely, […]

The Duchess of Cambridge might be able to make people buy dresses, but only Queen Elizabeth could sell an entire shipment of $380 teapots in seconds. The ornate teapots were the fastest-selling of the 26 special souvenirs released to mark the queen’s Diamond Jubilee, alongside a $380 bowl and a $145 plate. The most expensive […]

He’s known as the party prince so Harry must have been thrilled when he discovered he would be touring the rum-soaked Caribbean this year. Harry, 27, has visited Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica on behalf of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. As well as official duties, Harry has found […]