Queen receives citizens in Sandringham shortly before the throne jubilee

Created: 2/5/2022Updated: 2/5/2022 3:28 PM

Queen Elizabeth II receiving citizens in the ballroom of Sandringham House, the Queen's residence in Norfolk.

© Joe Giddens/PA Wire/dpa

The British Queen Elizabeth II counts 70 years on the throne this weekend.

She usually likes to celebrate this anniversary quietly at her country estate.

This time it's different.

Windsor - 70 years in office - and obviously in good spirits: Shortly before her jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II received citizens from the area at her country estate in East England, Sandringham.

The 95-year-old met with volunteers from a women's organization and former employees of the estate, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.

Former cooking student Angela Wood, one of the chefs involved in the Golden Jubilee 20 years ago of Coronation Chicken, which was very popular at the time, was also among the guests.

Dressed in festive light blue, the Queen cut a cake bearing the official anniversary emblem, baked for her by a local resident.

First major reception after a break

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 70th anniversary on the throne on Sunday.

Her father George VI.

died on February 6, 1952, and his eldest daughter became his successor.

No monarch before her has long reigned on the throne of the United Kingdom.

After the medically prescribed rest the Queen had taken before Christmas, the reception was her first major public appointment.

Originally it was said that the Queen wanted to spend the weekend in seclusion.

Larger celebrations of the platinum anniversary are not scheduled to take place until early June.

But there is already a celebratory mood in the country.

The BBC on Saturday released two pieces of music that an unnamed member of the royal family is said to have secretly commissioned from a British-Israeli composer.

In the text of a play designed as the Queen's fictional soliloquy, Elizabeth II reflects on her role in public and the special time of her long reign.

"I really like the Queen and was absolutely thrilled to be asked," London-born composer Loretta Kay-Feld told the BBC.

The 73-year-old musician, who lives north of Tel Aviv, said she found inspiration for how the Queen's decades of service could be represented musically on a walk by the sea.

Music and lyrics were in the air for her.

"It was all in my head, all I had to do was go home and write it down."

A cup of courage and a tablespoon of health

In collaboration with Irish director Jason Figgis, a video was also created for the solemn piece of music accompanied by piano.

A second, happier-sounding work by Kay-Feld called "70 Years a Queen" was also edited as a video.

It remains secret which member of the Royal Family commissioned the composer, who has worked for the Royals in the past.

They said she was contacted by email, phone and video link.

The client does not wish to be identified - but is enthusiastic about the result.

more on the subject

Sophie von Wessex: She even helps out at the vaccination center on her birthday

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee: Party with up to ten million people

Princess Beatrice: Sweet Declaration of Love to Baby Sienna & Stepson Wolfie

On Friday, Buckingham Palace also published memories of the Queen's past anniversaries - including the "Recipe for a Perfect Queen", for which royal blood, a cup of courage, a pint of hard work and a tablespoon of health are recommended.

For the Golden Jubilee 20 years ago, a nine-year-old boy had sent her this.

Steinmeier already congratulated

Alongside these memories, the Queen, accompanied by one of her beloved dogs - a Corgi named Candy - dared a look at the first entries for her "Platinum Pudding" a few days ago at Windsor Castle.

Creative gourmets can submit recipes for a cake under the call for entries.

The winning recipe will be published.

It will also be served at large "Jubilee Lunches" and enjoyed "by future generations," the palace said

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier already congratulated the Queen on her anniversary and emphasized her contribution to German-British reconciliation.

"Countless people around the world admire you for your tireless service at the head of your country and the Commonwealth of Nations over an exceptionally long period of time," he wrote.

“We Germans are no exception here.” Thanks to the Queen’s commitment, Anglo-German friendship has developed to a degree “that few Germans dared to hope for when she ascended the throne, a few years after the end of the Second World War would have".

dpa