Jubilee celebrations

By: Debora Hodgson, Stephanie Rolt - 08/06/2012

In honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the Graduate Trainees have produced a display for the Library Reading Room to celebrate Her Majesty’s connections with Kew.

Historic Royal Connections

Kew’s royal connections extend back to the early 18th century when King George II and his son Prince Frederick began to develop two separate estates which were later joined to create the Royal Botanic Gardens we know today.

Kew and the Queen

Since her coronation, Her Majesty the Queen has visited the gardens on many occasions for both public and private events. She helped Kew to celebrate its bicentenary in 1959 by planting a walnut tree (Juglans regia), and Kew Palace hosted her 80th birthday celebration in 2006.

Queen Elizabeth celebrating Kew’s bicentenary in 1959
 

Her other visits have included opening the Queen’s Garden and a new Herbarium wing containing the Library in 1969. In 1982, she reopened the Temperate House, which had been under restoration for five years, and visited the Marianne North Gallery. In 2004, in recognition of Kew’s UNESCO World Heritage status, the Queen unveiled a plaque in the Nash Conservatory.

The Queen signing the Director’s Visitor Book in 1982
 

The Queen’s Beasts

Have you ever wondered why ten stone beasts stand guarding the Palm House? They are actually replicas of the heraldic figures representing the Queen’s ancestors which were placed outside Westminster Abbey on the day of her coronation. They help to reinforce Kew’s royal identity.
 

The Queen’s Beasts

So as part of your Jubilee celebrations, why not visit the Library Reading Room from the 31 May to learn more about the Queen’s relationship with Kew and to see some of the fascinating books, archives and illustrations that are on display.

- Deborah and Stephanie -
 

Related links 

• Learn more about the Library, Art and Archive collections
• Find out about the Queen’s more recent visits to Kew
• Visit the official website of the British Monarchy
• Learn about Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee

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