Diamond jubilee


A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th anniversaries, although the human lifespan makes this usage more common for institutions.

Western monarchies

died a few months before his diamond jubilee was due in 1820. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria celebrated her 60-year reign on 22 June 1897. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated across the Commonwealth of Nations throughout 2012. Her next level of jubilee would be a platinum jubilee.

Asian monarchies

In East Asia, the diamond jubilee coincides with the traditional 60-year sexagenary cycle, which is held in special importance despite not generally being called a "diamond jubilee."
Monarchs such as the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors of China and Emperor Hirohito of Japan held celebrations for their 60th year of reign, as did King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand on 10 June 2006.
National governments also mark their 60th anniversary as diamond jubilees, as did the Republic of Korea in 2005 and the People's Republic of China in 2009.
In South Asia, the term is also used for certain 100-week anniversaries. For instance, in both India and Pakistan, a diamond jubilee film is one shown in cinemas for 100 weeks or more.

African monarchies

The longest reigning monarch in history, Sobhuza II of Swaziland, celebrated his diamond jubilee in 1981, dating from when he gained direct rule. There does not appear to have been any diamond jubilee celebration.

List of diamond jubilees

MonarchRealmAccession DayCommemorationMore information
Queen VictoriaUnited Kingdom and the rest of the British Empire20 June 183722 June 1897Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Franz Joseph IAustrian Empire, Austro-Hungary2 December 184812 June 1908
Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu BakarJohor7 September 189517 September 1955
Aga Khan IIIShia Ismaili1885August 1945
King Sobhuza IISwaziland22 December 19211981
Emperor HirohitoJapan25 December 19261986
King Bhumibol AdulyadejThailand9 June 194610 June 200660th Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession
Queen Elizabeth IIUnited Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and 12 other Commonwealth realms6 February 19522–5 June 2012Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II
His Highness the Aga Khan IVShia Ismaili11 July 195711 July 2017