Queen Elizabeth Is Commemorating 70 Years Of Her Reign This Year. Here’s What Past Celebrations Looked Like.
In the past, Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip would go on tours of the commonwealth to mark the occasion.
Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee year kicked off this past weekend on Feb. 6 to celebrate 70 years since she ascended to the throne after the death of King George VI. The Queen prefers to mark the day of her accession without much fanfare, as it is also a day she mourns the death of her beloved father.
This Jubilee will be celebrated throughout 2022, with a four-day holiday weekend when the people of England will be able to come together to celebrate. This year, which coincides with the Queen's 96th year, the celebration will happen in early June. The first jubilee, the Silver Jubilee, was celebrated 25 years into her reign in 1977. Her 50th anniversary, the Golden Jubilee, was celebrated in 2002. In the past, Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip would go on tours of the commonwealth.
Here, we look back on those celebrations.

Children welcome Queen Elizabeth II as she walks on a sports field at Butterley Hall, near Chesterfield, during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britain in 1977.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the North East leg the tour in 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh as they drive on the return processional drive to Buckingham Palace after lunch at the Guildhall to celebrate the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by crowds in London during celebrations of her Silver Jubilee, June 7, 1977. She is accompanied by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Robin Gillet.

Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in her golden coach during her Silver Jubilee in 1977 in London.

Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Duke of Edinburgh wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Silver Jubilee procession on July 6, 1977.

Rolls-Royce owners take part in a Golden Jubilee Tribute rally at Windsor Castle in 1977.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at the state opening of Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1977.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive at St. Paul's Cathedral in the Gold State Coach to celebrate the Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Young well-wishers cheer Queen Elizabeth II as she tours and officially opens the site of the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland as part of the continuing Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002.

Prince William and Prince Harry after attending a commemoration service for the Golden Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II at St. Mary's Church, Swansea, in 2002.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets children from the St. Joseph's RC Primary School in Jarrow as part of her Jubilee visit to the North East in 2002.

The Queen visits Falmouth, Cornwall, during her Golden Jubilee Tour in 2002.

Queen Elizabeth Il, Prince Philip, and the lord mayor of London appear with Prince William and Prince Harry behind, leaving St. Paul's Cathedral after attending a service of Thanksgiving to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Hospital Chelsea is presented with a gift of a parade chair specially designed and made for her by British craftsmen commissioned by the Royal Hospital to mark the Golden Jubilee of her reign.

The crowd waves their Union Jack flags as the Queen leaves Seaham, Sunderland, where she enjoyed a walkabout on the second day of her Golden Jubilee tour of northeast England.

The Queen talks to Graham Munroe from the Historic Scotland Society as she tours Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders. The Queen visited where the heart of the medieval Scottish King Robert the Bruce is buried.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on the large screen at Piccadilly Circus to mark the start of the Platinum Jubilee on Feb. 6, 2022, in London.

Queen Elizabeth II cuts a cake to celebrate the start of the Platinum Jubilee during a reception in the ballroom of Sandringham House on Feb. 5, 2022, in King's Lynn, England.

British soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment parade through London's Hyde Park in preparation for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Queen Elizabeth II looks at a display of memorabilia from her Golden and Platinum jubilees in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, in this undated but recent image that was released on Feb. 4, 2022.

The Queen celebrates the start of the Platinum Jubilee during a reception in the ballroom of Sandringham House on Feb. 5, 2022, in King's Lynn, England.