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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

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The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (French: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II[6]) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. There are four versions of the medal: one issued by the United Kingdom, another by Canada, the third for the Caribbean realms of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the fourth issued by Papua New Guinea. The ribbons used with the Canadian and British versions of the medal are the same, while the ribbon of the Caribbean and the Papua New Guinean medal differ slightly. The different iterations of the medal were presented to tens of thousands of recipients throughout the Commonwealth realms in the jubilee year.

Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals: Canada (left), Caribbean realms (centre), and United Kingdom and Commonwealth (right)
TypeMedal
Awarded forHaving made an honourable service in military, police, prison, and emergency forces, or for outstanding achievement or public service
Presented byThe monarch of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United Kingdom
StatusNo longer awarded
Total10 (Australia)[1]
60,000 (Canada)[2]
3 (New Zealand)[3]
450,000 (United Kingdom)[4]
5,898 (Jamaica)[5]
  • Jamaica Defence Force: 764
  • Jamaica Constabulary Force: 3,926
  • Department of Correctional Services: 735
  • Jamaica Fire Brigade: 353
  • Emergency Services: 120




Ribbons of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (above: Canadian and British; middle: Caribbean realms; bottom: Papua New Guinea)
Precedence
Next (higher)Dependent on state
Next (lower)Dependent on state

Design

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Named by Order in Council as the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal,[7] the Canadian medal was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Fraser Herald of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, and manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint.[8] It takes the form of a disc with, on the obverse, a crowned effigy of the Queen circumscribed by the words ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA • CANADA (Latin for "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen • Canada").[9] The reverse features Elizabeth's royal cypher crowned and superimposed upon a diamond shield, behind which is a bed of four maple leaves and a ribbon with the dates 1952 and 2012 to the left and right of the shield and VIVAT REGINA (long live the Queen) below, all on a field of diamonds.

In the United Kingdom, the medal, more properly known as The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal,[10] was designed by Timothy Noad, a calligrapher and illuminator. It depicts on the obverse the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of the Queen crowned with a tiara and is circumscribed by the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF (Latin for "Elizabeth II by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith"). The reverse shows a faceted hexagon with a crowned royal cipher, inscribed with the years 1952 and 2012.[11]

 
Original approved painting of the Canadian Diamond Jubilee Medal
 
British and Commonwealth version of the Diamond Jubilee medal
 
Caribbean Diamond Jubilee medal
 
Papua New Guinea's Diamond Jubilee Medal

Eight Commonwealth realms in the Caribbean—Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada,[12] Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—each issued a Diamond Jubilee medal. The obverse bears the same effigy of the Queen as does the British medal circumscribed by the words DIAMOND JUBILEE HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II. The reverse shows the royal cypher of Elizabeth II with CARIBBEAN REALMS above and the years 1952–2012 below. The medal itself is rhodium plated.[13]

Papua New Guinea has also created its own version of the Diamond Jubilee Medal.[14] The obverse and reverse are exactly the same as the version issued to the Commonwealth Realms of the Caribbean, however with the name PAPUA NEW GUINEA above the royal cypher (instead of "CARIBBEAN REALMS").

Both the Canadian and British versions of the medal are worn suspended from a broad red ribbon with blue outer stripes and, at the centre, double white stripes with a red stripe between.[9] The ribbon of the Caribbean medal is similar to the aforementioned, with a black stripe between the middle two white stripes.[15] The ribbon of the medal version issued in Papua New Guinea is the most different. It keeps the same black stripe in the centre like the Caribbean ribbon, the shade of red is lighter than the other three versions and the blue is replaced by the colour yellow. Therefore, this version of the Diamond Jubilee Medal uses the colours of the flag of Papua New Guinea.

All four versions of the medal were awarded unnamed.[16]

Eligibility and allocation

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In the United Kingdom and its overseas territories,[17] 450,000 medals were awarded only to members of HM Armed Forces (regular and reserves) who had served longer than five years, operational members of HM Prison Service, and emergency services personnel (including Police Community Support Officers) who have been in paid service, retained or in a voluntary capacity, and who had completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012. Holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross and members of the Royal Household were also eligible.[18] The medals cost the Department for Culture, Media and Sport £8m to produce.[19]

 
The certificate accompanying the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal presented to Canadian music artist Jugpreet Singh Bajwa

The Canadian medal, which is to "honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians,"[9] is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall and was awarded to 60,000 citizens and permanent residents of Canada who made a significant contribution to their fellow countrymen, their community, or to Canada over the previous sixty years.[20] The medal could have been awarded posthumously if the recipient was alive on 6 February 2012.[20] The medals were allocated either automatically to individuals within certain prescribed categories—such as those in the Canadian order of precedence, the Order of Canada, or recipients of the Cross of Valour—or by selection by specific officials, such as the Governor General, senators, the Chief of the Defence Staff, or presidents of various non-governmental organisations.[note 1] The Governor General was also permitted to make "exceptional awards" of the medal.[7]

On 30 May 2012, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, presented British jubilee medals to 28 members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, including individuals from the United Kingdom, Australia,[21] Nepal, and Indonesia, as well as representatives from Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which had each been collectively awarded the George Cross between 1942 and 1999, respectively.[citation needed]

In Jamaica, the Diamond Jubilee medal was awarded to members of the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Department of Correctional Services, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and the Emergency Services.[5][note 2]

Precedence in each realm

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Some orders of precedence are as follows:

Country Preceding Following
  Australia
Order of precedence[22] 		Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
  Canada
Order of precedence[23]		 King Charles III Coronation Medal
  New Zealand[24] Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
  United Kingdom
Order of precedence[25]

History

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Soldiers of the Royal Bermuda Regiment of the British Army, two wearing the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

In keeping with previous jubilees, plans for a commemorative medal were first announced by the Lord President of the Council, Lord Mandelson, in early 2010.[26] The design and eligibility criteria were subsequently announced by the Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Hunt, in the summer of 2011,[27] stating "I hope the official medal will serve as a mark of thanks to all those who give so much in the name of society and public service and I extend my congratulations to all the recipients."[28]

 
Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258, Toronto, Ontario, 24 February 2013

The Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, announced on 3 February 2011 that the Queen had approved the creation of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and he and Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled the medal's design at Rideau Hall.[29][30] The first medal was struck by the Governor General on 6 December of the same year.[31][32]

On Accession Day 2012, the first Canadian medals were presented to 60 recipients by the Governor General at a ceremony at Rideau Hall and to others at other locations across the country;[33][34] the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, Frank Lewis, awarded the medal to six persons at a ceremony at Government House.[35] It was at the same time announced that each member of the federal parliament (MP) and senator would receive a jubilee medal. At least six Quebec MPs (four belonging to the Bloc Québécois party and two to the New Democratic Party (NDP)) declined the honour.[36] Bloc MP Maria Mourani did so because she felt the medal was a "symbol of colonisation" and to accept it would be offensive to her belief in Quebec sovereignty,[37] while Louis Plamondon stated the money being spent by the Crown on jubilee events and markers was a waste.[38] NDP MP Pierre Nantel stated his then four months in the House of Commons did not warrant such recognition and it should go to a more deserving constituent in his riding.[39]

It was reported in April 2012 that some recipients of the British medal had been criticised for offering their awards for sale on eBay,[19] while ex servicemen and women, the Merchant Navy, and St. John Ambulance were angered at being overlooked due to the "economic climate."[40] Recognising that "some people and organisations might be disappointed," a government spokesman said: "It is also important to maintain the integrity and exclusivity of the medal, and it is simply not possible to include all these groups."[41] The contract to produce the medal and ribbons was awarded to a consortium of small businesses holding royal warrants, led by Worcestershire Medal Service.[42]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Allocation of the 60,000 Canadian medals were as follows:
  2. ^ Distribution of medals in Jamaica:
    • 764 for the members of the Jamaica Defence Force
    • 3,926 for the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force
    • 735 for the members of the Department of Correctional Services
    • 353 for the members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade
    • 120 for the Emergency Services[5]

References

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  1. ^ Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 384. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  2. ^ Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 442. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  3. ^ Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 456. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  4. ^ Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 293. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  5. ^ a b c "GG Presents Diamond Jubilee Medals on December 14". Jamaica Information Service. 11 December 2012.
  6. ^ Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II
  7. ^ a b c Government of Canada (4 February 2012), "Letters patent creating the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal", Canada Gazette, 146 (5), Queen's Printer for Canada, retrieved 14 June 2012
  8. ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Fact Sheet: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal" (PDF). Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  9. ^ a b c Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal" (PDF). Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  10. ^ "This commemorative medal is designated and styled 'The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal'." Defence Instructions and Notices, Ref. 2011DIN09-012, Ministry of Defence, November 2011.
  11. ^ Ministry of Defence (28 June 2011). "Members of the Armed Forces to receive new medal". Defence News. UK Government. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Grenada: Diamond Jubilee Medal". CaribDirect. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  13. ^ McCreery, Christopher (19 May 2012). Commemorative Medals of The Queen's Reign in Canada, 1952–2012. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-1459707566.
  14. ^ "Medals of Papua New Guinea". 10 February 2007.
  15. ^ McCreery, Christopher (19 May 2012). Commemorative Medals of The Queen's Reign in Canada, 1952–2012. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-1459707566.
  16. ^ "Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012". Online medals: Medal Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  17. ^ Government of St. Helena (29 May 2012). "Fifty four Diamond Jubilee Medals to be awarded on St Helena". St Helena Government. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  18. ^ Home Office (15 September 2011). "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  19. ^ a b Wardrop, Murray (27 April 2012), "Recipients of Queen's Diamond Jubilee medals criticised for selling awards on eBay", The Daily Telegraph, retrieved 16 June 2012
  20. ^ a b Office of the Governor General of Canada (22 May 2011). "Diamond Jubilee Medal Eligibility Criteria". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  21. ^ "Presentation of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal to Corporal Daniel Keighran VC". Governor-General of Australia Events. 1 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  22. ^ The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards
  23. ^ "Canadian Honours Chart". The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  24. ^ "Order of wear: orders, decorations and medals in New Zealand". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  25. ^ Directgov, Orders of Wear, UK Government
  26. ^ Queen's Diamond Jubilee Statement Lords Hansard, col. 11, 5 January 2010
  27. ^ Department of Culture, Media and Sport (28 June 2011). "Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal announced". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  28. ^ Directgov (28 June 2011). "Official medal to mark Diamond Jubilee". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  29. ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada (3 February 2011). "Commemorative Medal Created for the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  30. ^ "Canada kicks off festivities for Queen's jubilee". CTV. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  31. ^ "Government of Canada Unveils Plans for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations". Canada Newswire. Office of the Prime Minister. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  32. ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada (5 December 2011). "Governor General to Strike Diamond Jubilee Medal at the Royal Canadian Mint". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  33. ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada (6 February 2012). "Sixty Canadians are Honoured During the Inaugural Presentation Ceremony of the Diamond Jubilee Medal at Rideau Hall". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  34. ^ McQuigge, Michelle (7 February 2012), "Canada kicks off four months of celebrations for Queen's Diamond Jubilee", Winnipeg Free Press, retrieved 9 February 2012
  35. ^ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island (3 February 2012). "Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Begin". Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  36. ^ Rakobowchuk, Peter (6 February 2012), "Jubilee hoopla a royal pain for some anti-monarchists who question cost", Winnipeg Free Press, retrieved 6 February 2012
  37. ^ Bourgault-Côté, Guillaume (8 February 2012), "Jubilé de la reine – Pas de médailles pour Ahuntsic", Le Devoir, retrieved 9 February 2012
  38. ^ McQuigge, Michelle (7 February 2012), "Canada kicks off four months of celebrations for Queen's Diamond Jubilee", Winnipeg Free Press, retrieved 9 February 2012
  39. ^ "MP who refused jubilee medal says he's not worthy". CTV. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  40. ^ "Jubilee medal snub is a slap in the face, says Lincolnshire veteran", Sleaford Target, 4 April 2012, retrieved 16 June 2012
  41. ^ Birchley, Emma (21 January 2012). "Veterans Angered Over Jubilee Medal Snub". Sky News. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  42. ^ Department of Culture, Media and Sport (1 December 2011). "Diamond Jubilee Medal to be produced in the West Midlands". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.

Further reading

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