Since the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, Great Britain — and the rest of the globe — has seen many changes. From family celebrations within the royal circles, to impacting movements that have changed the way we live today, much can happen in over three decades. As the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, we look back at what has changed in the past 35 years of the Queen's reign.
Royal occasions
After celebrating her Silver Jubilee in 1977, which marked 25 years of her reign, in 2002 Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Golden Jubilee. This marked 50 years of the Queen's reign and once again Great Britain celebrated. On this occasion, Queen Elizabeth was pleased to look to the future, stating in her Golden Jubilee message that there is 'as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride.' With her Diamond Jubilee approaching this message is quite apt.
Royal family celebrations
Very much a family oriented person, the Queen has become a grandmother eight times and a great grandmother twice since her Silver Jubilee. Then, in 2000, the royal family celebrated the Queen Mother's 100th birthday — quite a milestone in anyone's life. In 2006, the Queen herself turned 80 and, shortly after in 2007, the Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary —signifying 60 years of marriage to one another. A large family, the royals will undoubtedly never be short of family celebrations.
The rise of girl power
Since her Silver Jubilee, the Queen has seen many big changes in the world, particularly in politics and current affairs. But as a powerful woman herself, Queen Elizabeth has also witnessed the rise of girl power in Britain; the first female British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, the girl group The Spice Girls and one of the world's most successful authoresses, JK Rowling — the creator of the Harry Potter novels.
Science and innovation
Unavoidably, developments in the science and technological world are forever occurring, and between 1977 and 2012 is no exception. One year after the Queen's Silver Jubilee the first test tube baby was born in Britain, then in 1991 the first Briton went into space — Helen Sharman actually took a photograph of the Queen with her! 1994 saw the opening of The Channel Tunnel, the 50.5 kilometre tunnel linking Great Britain with France, then in 1996 the first mammal to ever be cloned was born — the famous Dolly the sheep.
Technology
No one would have ever thought that the Queen herself would have her own Facebook page, but in November 2012 The Royal Monarchy's Facebook page was created. Though it is not possible to become 'friends' with the Queen or any of her relatives, around 41,000 Facebook users 'liked' the page within the first hour of the its launch. We suspect one thought to move with the times, as the Queen also has a Twitter account. Since 1977, Queen Elizabeth has also seen the developments of technology such as the iPhone and iPad, 3D cinema, airport body scanners as well as television that can be paused! Whatever next?
Royal weddings
Royal weddings are such a huge affair that people across the globe tune in to watch the glamour and decadence on television. Not only do they hype up whole nations, but royal weddings can be huge milestones for the Queen herself. Seeing the first of her grandchildren marry was a special day for the Queen when Peter Philips married Autumn Kelly in 2008, as was the wedding of her second grandson prince William when he married Kate Middleton in April 2011. Since 1977 her son, The Prince of Wales, has married twice, to Lady Diana Spencer and Camilla Parker Bowles respectively, then in July 2011 the Queen's eldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips, wed Mike Tindall. The Queen's Christmas gift list is ever expanding!
Government and politics
During the Queen's reign since her Silver Jubilee in 1977, there have been six Prime Ministers; one of which (David Cameron) formed the first coalition government since World War Two and another (Tony Blair) was the only Prime Minister to be born during the Queen's reign. There may have been many changes in British politics since 1977, but the tradition and authority still remains that the Queen plays a part in the ceremonial opening and closing of Parliament — apart from when Her Royal Highness was carrying each of her sons in 1959 and 1963.
Changes in the law
There have been significant changes in certain laws since the Queen celebrated 25 years of reign; ranging from laws that affect the royal family, such as sons and daughters of any future UK monarch having equal right to the throne, to progressive movements in equality for gay and lesbian individuals, such as the Civil Partnership Act 2004. Other major laws to be changed since 1977, and which received the most media attention for being a positive step, include the ban on foxhunting in England, the smoking ban across Britain and lifting the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18.
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