British Queen Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

MONARCH: What’s it like being one?
Freedom
Work
Food
Friends
Parties
Travel

Guess if a-h below are
true (T) or false (F).
a The queen of England is celebrating
her 60th birthday. T/F
b Elizabeth became queen when she was 25 years old. T/F
c She spent the day with her family
at a big party in her palace. T/F
d British people will celebrate the diamond jubilee next month. T/F

e There have been 12 U.S. Presidents during the Queen’s reign. T/F
f She has owned 26 corgis (her favourite breed of dog). T/F
g She announced she will retire as queen at the end of 2012. T/F
h Her popularity went down in the weeks after Princes Diana’s death. T/F

Match the following synonyms from the article.
1. monarch a. work
2. ascended b. progress
3. duties c. started
4. launched d. rose
5. scheduled e. about
6. approximately f. king or queen
7. citizens g. decline
8. advances h. people
9. despite i. planned
10. downturn j. in spite of

PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1. Queen Elizabeth II a. on official duties
celebrated 60 years
2. She ascended b. 3.5 million letters
3. spent the day c. as a monarch
4. the celebrations to mark d. to take place
5. celebrations are scheduled e. reign
6. Her Royal Highness’ f. have been made
7. he has answered g. to the throne
approximately
8. a time h. her popularity
9. great advances that i. her diamond jubilee
10. a downturn in j. to give

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years as a (1) ____________ on February 6th. She ascended to the (2) ____________ of the United Kingdom in 1953, when she was a 25-year-old princess. The 85-year-old queen
(3) __________ the day on official duties. She toured the town of King’s Lynn in the east of England. The (4) ____________ mayor opened the celebrations to mark her diamond jubilee. Queen Elizabeth herself (5) ____________ a new website that shows how much the world has changed during her six-decade
(6) _________. Bigger celebrations are scheduled to take (7) __________ in the U.K. in the summer. There will be a 1,000-ship (8) __________ on the River Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace.
During Her Royal Highness’ reign, there have been 12 British prime ministers, 12 American presidents and six (9) __________. She has also owned 60 corgis (her favourite dog). The diamond jubilee website says she has (10) __________ approximately 3.5 million letters. The queen (11) __________ her citizens that she would "(12) _________ myself anew to your service". She also said: "I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great (13) __________ that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with (14) __________ head and warm heart." The queen is still very popular with British people, (15) __________ a downturn in her (16) __________
after the death of Princess.
monarch
throne
spent
local
launched
reign
place
pageant
popes
answered
promised
dedicate
advances
clear
despite
popularity

Queen began Diamond Jubilee celebrations in King's Lynn, Norfolk, where she spent time at a primary school
Around 150 well wishers gathered in King's Lynn to wave flags and welcome the Monarch

Pupils at Dersingham Infant and Nursery School treat Queen to rendition of The Time Warp

Parade: Hundreds turned out along St John's Wood High Street in London today to watch soldiers from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery leave their nearby barracks for the last time before heading to Hyde Park for a 41-gun Royal Salute

Soldiers from the Honourable Artillery Company fire blank rounds during the 62-gun Royal Salute at the Tower of London in front of Tower Bridge
Boom:

Celebrate:
The public were treated to a lavish firework display in Greenwich, London, to mark the eve of Royal celebrations.

STAMPS TO MARK THE OCCASION
The Royal Mail has also marked the Diamond Jubilee by updating the design of the 1st class stamp.
Its traditional gold background has been replaced with a blue colour scheme and the words 'Diamond Jubilee' highlighted in iridescent ink.

Queen Elizabeth herself launched a new website

Queen's Diamond Jubilee: British pop stars to perform at tribute concert

Diamond Jubilee Medal
A new commemorative medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.

KINGS AND QUEENS DISCUSSION
a) What did you think when you read the headline?
b) What springs to mind when you hear the
word ‘queen’?
c) What do you know about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II?
d) What would you like to know about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II?
e) Do you think having a monarchy is good for a country?

KINGS AND QUEENS DISCUSSION
f) What do you think of the Queen’s diamond jubilee?
g) Would you like a diamond jubilee?
How would you celebrate?
h) How has the world changed in the past six decades?
i) What do you think the queen does every day?
j) Would you like to be a monarch?

KINGS AND QUEENS DISCUSSION
k) Did you like reading this article?
l) Is it better for a country to have a monarchy or not have one?
m) Is it better for a country to have a king or a queen?
n) What do you think of the Queen’s length of service to her country?
o) Do you think the Queen has had a great life?

KINGS AND QUEENS DISCUSSION
p) What advice do you have for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II?
q) What kind of letters do you think the Queen gets?
r) Do you “look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart”?
s) Who do you prefer, the Queen or Princess Diana?
t) What questions would you like to ask Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II?