Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates Her Sapphire Jubilee with Commemorative Coins, Stamps, and A Royal Salute

February 6^th marks a very special occasion for Britons. Exactly 65 years ago today, Queen Elizabeth II took the British throne after the premature death of her father, King George VI. She has also set a new record for being the first British monarch to reach her sapphire jubilee!

The Queen, now aged 90, wishes to celebrate her jubilee privately at her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England. The world's longest-reigning living monarch has simmered down on her royal duties due to her age, which explains why she decline to be celebrated in public. Most international duties will be passed down to other royal members of the family, but she still carries out her regular duties in Britain.

Despite her wishes to celebrate her Accession Day publicly, the occasion was still celebrated across Britain. A royal salute will be carried out at the Tower of London, where 41 shots will be fired to commemorate the celebration.

A 2014 portrait of the queen shot by David Bailey has also been reissued. The photography shows the royal sovereign wearing a set of sapphire jewellery gifted by her father as a wedding gift in 1947. Her gemstone set dates back to 1850 and her necklace is made up of 16 big oblong sapphires complimented with stunning diamonds around it.

The Royal Mint has also issued special edition commemorative coins ranging from £5 coins priced at £13 (RM71.77) to the luxurious £5 Gold Proof Coin made of 22-carat gold, sold at a royal price tag of £1,945 (RM10,737.47). Despite the hefty price tag, the gold coin has already sold out.

If you’re bummed about not getting your hands on these one-of-a-kind coins, perhaps you could try your luck at getting the commemorative stamps issued by The Royal Mail. An exclusive sapphire blue £5 stamp bearing the profile of the Queen will go on sale today.

Here's to many more years, Queen Elizabeth!