Queen rededicates herself to country in Diamond Jubilee address

The Queen has pledged to serve the country for many more years in an address at Westminster to mark her Diamond Jubilee.

Addressing MPs and peers, the Queen said she had been “privileged” to rule over Britain for the last sixty years.

“With the support of my family, [I] rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come,” she said.

Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband were in the audience, as were the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

The Queen drew laughter when she quipped that “at the last count”, 12 Prime Ministers had served since her accession.

Turning her attention to the celebrations taking place to mark the Diamond Jubilee, she said she hoped they would be “an opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of neighbourliness and celebration”.

Other dignitaries present for the address included former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

A Diamond Jubilee window was unveiled during the occasion as a gift from both Houses of Parliament.

The main celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee will take place over a four-day national holiday in June. They include a spectacular Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace on 4 June, featuring Shirley Bassey, Jools Holland, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard and Ed Sheeran.

Sunday 3 June will see one of the largest flotillas ever to be assembled on the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant, with up to 1,000 boats taking part.

Churches will be getting involved with the Big Lunch, also taking place on 3 June. The churches’ involvement is being overseen by HOPE, which has provided free resources to help them put on or join in other community lunches.

Churches are also being invited to light a beacon in celebration of the occasion.