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Sixty years on the throne

March 20, 2012

England's Queen Elizabeth II delivered a speech to both houses of the British parliament on Tuesday as part of the events surrounding her Diamond jubilee, marking 60 years as the country's head of state.

https://p.dw.com/p/14NvC
Queen Elizabeth stands in front of parliament
Image: Reuters

During the ceremony at Westminster Hall in London, a stained glass window marking the queen's anniversary was unveiled. The window was a gift from members of parliament and was paid for with private contributions of the lawmakers.

Elizabethis just the second English monarch ever to celebrate 60 years on the throne. The first was Queen Victoria, who celebrated her Diamond jubilee in 1897.

Queen Elizabeth said she hoped her Diamond jubilee would provide an "opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of neighborliness and celebration of their own communities."

She thanked her son, Charles, and other members of her family for representing her in travels to other Commonwealth countries.

At the end of her speech, the queen rededicated herself "to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come."

mz/ncy (AFP, AP)