This year we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s platinum jubilee. A jubilee is an anniversary,
a time to celebrate something important. This year, it’s the seventieth anniversary
of Queen Elizabeth the second’s accession to the throne of the United Kingdom. This means
she became the Queen seventy years ago, on the sixth of February nineteen fifty-two, to be exact,
after her father died. So the Queen acceded to the throne seventy years ago this year - 2022
‘To accede’ just means to take up an office or position.
Like many things associated with the royal family, it’s a very formal word, usually reserved for royalty or high office.
'Throne' is this - a highly decorated, ceremonial chair for a monarch or other important person. We also use
the word ‘throne’ figuratively, to mean a position of power, so to take the throne or accede to the
throne means to become king or queen, but also, figuratively, to start to hold power.
The Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations started in February 2022
and will go on to February twenty twenty-three to commemorate seventy years after she was crowned
Queen Elizabeth the second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth,
Defender of the Faith. That’s her official title! Wow! That’s a mouthful! This is a crown,
so ‘to be crowned’ means to become a king or queen. It can also just mean to win a competition.
Queen Elizabeth the second was crowned on June the second nineteen fifty-three, which makes
her the longest reigning British monarch ever! ‘To reign’, no not this kind of rain, this kind of reign, means to
hold royal office, or simply be the queen or king.
Our beloved Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations include a four day weekend for people who live in
the UK at the beginning of June! Whoo hoo! And to celebrate, her subjects are throwing street
parties and planting trees for the jubilee. There was even a competition, judged by the queen of
The Great British Bake Off herself, Mary Berry to find the best new dessert or pudding called
‘The Platinum Pudding’ competition which ordinary people entered. Jemma Melvin was
crowned the winner for her ‘lemon swiss roll and amaretti trifle’, inspired by her grandmothers
and the Queen. A trifle is a very British dessert, made of sponge cake and fruit covered in layers of
jelly - the kind with gelatine in it, not the one you put on sandwiches - custard and cream. It’s
scrumptious, which is a very British way to say delicious. Jemma’s version is made with rolled
up sponge cake, lemon and those sweet little Italian almond biscuits. Hmmm scrumptious!
it feels necessary to mention there’s some mixed opinions about the monarchy in Britain.
Some people think this kind of inherited power is outdated while others love the tradition, grace and dignity
the Queen and the royal family represent. Let us know your opinion in the comments below!
I’m Anna! Thanks for watching English Like A Native. If you would like more English traditions and English language lessons then please click that subscribe button. Now… where can I find that trifle recipe!