On December 14th 2022 I had the great honour of welcoming His Majesty the King whilst he was visiting Parliament.
The King visited to formally unveil the Platinum Jubilee Gift to Her Late Majesty the Queen, which marked the 70th anniversary of Her reign last year.
The Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords had asked me in July 2020 to organise Parliament’s Platinum Jubilee Gift for Her Late Majesty. I had done this previously for the Diamond Jubilee Gift in 2012; when I raised the funds and commissioned the gift of a bespoke stained glass window depicting the late Queen’s coat of arms in Westminster Hall.
You can read more about the Diamond Jubilee Gift in 2012 from the BBC News website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16470967.
The Platinum Jubilee gifts, funded by personal donations from hundreds of members of both Houses of Parliament and from across the political spectrum, are two lanterns in the shape of St Edward’s Crown adorned with four hand-sculpted bronze sculptures featuring the heraldic beasts of each nation of the United Kingdom- the Lion of England, the Unicorn of Scotland, the Dragon of Wales and the Irish Elk of Northern Ireland, which are symbolic of the unifying effect which Her Late Majesty had on the nation. They sit atop Portland stone plinths, hand carved with royal emblems. No taxpayers money was used for the gifts; the money was raised entirely from donations from parliamentarians.
The King switched on the lights during the visit. He was attended by the Speaker of the House and the Lord Speaker and with hundreds of members of the House of Commons and Lords, including the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, all present. The Archbishop of Canterbury was also present.
Cambridge-based sculptor Tim Crawley was chosen to design the sculptures, working alongside Hampshire fine art foundry Morris Singer. The intricately detailed designs take inspiration from the architecture and heraldic art found within the Palace of Westminster.
Last year’s Platinum Jubilee was unique in our island’s long history, and it was an honour to have a role in celebrating the Late Queen’s lifetime of devoted service to her country and the duty she exemplified throughout her long reign.
Whilst at Parliament the King also unveiled a plaque marking the Late Queen’ Lying-in-State in Westminster Hall.
You can see more photos of the Platinum Jubilee Gifts at this link: Published Assets (assetbank-server.com)
(Photos: His Majesty the King and Michael Ellis MP at the unveiling ceremony for the Platinum Jubilee Gift at the Palace of Westminster) (Photos ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor)