# Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years as monarch **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896 "2012-02-05T21:56:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/121 "2012-06-05T16:49:24Z")
Some funny memories from former PM John Major: [The prime minister who slept through dinner with the Queen](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9291914/The-prime-minister-who-slept-through-dinner-with-the-Queen.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/122 "2012-06-05T19:26:51Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Like this: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_embedded&v=6BEW2LuX3-M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6BEW2LuX3-M) Wow. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/123 "2012-06-06T01:56:32Z")
i was impressed with the boat with bells pealing, that was really neat. the philharmonic with very drenched singers on the barge was amusing. the band on horse back is not something that can be one upped. that was really impressive! although i did feel for the horses with the drummers. that must be really weird feeling for the horse. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/124 "2012-06-06T02:12:04Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > In Canada we get the Queen as the embodiment of the Crown (the state) pretty much paid for by England. How nice of them to pay the bill. She’s represented by the GG – but does the GG play anything like the role in Canadian government that HM plays in British government? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/125 "2012-06-06T03:19:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > She’s represented by the GG – but does the GG play anything like the role in Canadian government that HM plays in British government? Well, the “defender of the faith” thing is right out, but the [GG](http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=3) does grant royal assent to legislation, welcome ambassadors, and bestow honours. He is also the Commander in Chief. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/126 "2012-06-06T03:43:46Z")
The GG is also appointed by the Queen on the (never refused) advice of the PM of Canada, and is now customarily a Canadian himself or herself. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896/127 "2012-06-06T03:53:27Z")
There were apparently two royal barges for the Thames River pageant - one motorized and the other not: > **[MV Spirit of Chartwell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Spirit_of_Chartwell)** > > MV Spirit of Chartwell is a hotel barge owned and operated by Portuguese holiday company Douro Azul for luxury cruises along the Douro river, Porto, Portugal. > Previously owned and operated by the Magna Carta Steamship Company for luxury cruises along the River Thames, she was selected in late 2011 to be the royal barge as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and carried the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in a flotilla of more than 1,000 vessels during the Tham... > **[Gloriana (barge)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloriana_(ship))** > > Gloriana is a British royal barge. She was privately commissioned as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her 2012 Diamond Jubilee, and was the lead vessel in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. > The project to build Gloriana was initiated by Lord Sterling, who gained the idea for a waterborne tribute to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee from her eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales. Lord Sterling financed much of the estimated £1.5 million construction cost of the project, with additional finan... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-60-years-as-monarch/611896.md?page=6)