Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Elizabeth II's accession to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms. There are three versions of the medal: one issued by the United Kingdom, another by Canada, and the third for the Caribbean realms of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The ribbons used with the Canadian and British versions of the medal are the same, while the ribbon of the Caribbean medal differs slightly. The different iterations of the medal were presented to tens of thousands of recipients throughout the Commonwealth realms in the jubilee year.

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals: Canada (left), Caribbean realms (centre), and United Kingdom and Commonwealth (right)
Awarded by the

monarch of Antigua and Barbuda, monarch of Australia, monarch of The Bahamas, monarch of Barbados, monarch of Canada, monarch of Grenada, monarch of Jamaica, monarch of Saint Kitts and Nevis, monarch of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and monarch of the United Kingdom
TypeMedal
EligibilityA Commonwealth citizen who was alive on 6 February 2012
Awarded forHaving made an honourable service in military, police, prison, and emergency forces, or for outstanding achievement or public service
StatusNo longer awarded
Statistics
Last awarded1 December 2012[1]
Total awarded10 (Australia)[2]
60,000 (Canada)[3]
3 (New Zealand)[4]
450,000 (United Kingdom)[5]
Precedence
Next (higher)Dependent on state
Next (lower)Dependent on state





Ribbons of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (above: Canadian and British; middle: Caribbean realms; bottom: Papua New Guinea)

Design

Named by Order in Council as the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal,[6] the Canadian medal was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Fraser Herald of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, and manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint.[7] It takes the form of a disc with, on the obverse, a crowned effigy of the Queen circumscribed by the words ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA • CANADA (Latin for "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen • Canada").[8] The reverse features Elizabeth's royal cypher crowned and superimposed upon a diamond shield, behind which is a bed of four maple leaves and a ribbon with the dates 1952 and 2012 to the left and right of the shield and VIVAT REGINA (long live the Queen) below, all on a field of diamonds.

In the United Kingdom, the medal, more properly known as The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal,[9] was designed by Timothy Noad, a calligrapher and illuminator. It depicts on the obverse the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of the Queen crowned with a tiara and is circumscribed by the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF (Latin for "Elizabeth II by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith"). The reverse shows a faceted hexagon with a crowned royal cipher, inscribed with the years 1952 and 2012.[10]

Original approved painting of the Canadian Diamond Jubilee Medal
British and Commonwealth version of the Diamond Jubilee medal
Caribbean Diamond Jubilee medal

Eight Commonwealth realms in the Caribbean—Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada,[11] Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—have each issued a Diamond Jubilee medal. The obverse bears the same effigy of the Queen as does the British medal circumscribed by the words DIAMOND JUBILEE HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II. The reverse shows the royal cypher of Elizabeth II with CARIBBEAN REALMS above and the years 1952–2012 below. The medal itself is rhodium plated.[12]

Both the Canadian and British versions of the medal are worn suspended from a broad red ribbon with blue outer stripes and, at the centre, double white stripes with a red stripe between.[8] The ribbon of the Caribbean medal is similar to the aforementioned, with a black stripe between the middle two white stripes.[13]

All three versions of the medal were awarded unnamed.[14]

Eligibility and allocation

In the United Kingdom and its overseas territories,[15] 450,000 medals were awarded only to members of HM Armed Forces (regular and reserves) who had served longer than five years, operational members of HM Prison Service, and emergency services personnel (including Police Community Support Officers) who have been in paid service, retained or in a voluntary capacity, and who had completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012. Holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross and members of the Royal Household were also eligible.[16] The medals cost the Department for Culture, Media and Sport £8m to produce.[17]

The Canadian medal, which is to "honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians,"[8] is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall and was awarded to 60,000 citizens and permanent residents of Canada who made a significant contribution to their fellow countrymen, their community, or to Canada over the previous sixty years.[18] The medal could have been awarded posthumously if the recipient was alive on 6 February 2012.[18] The medals were allocated either automatically to individuals within certain prescribed categories—such as those in the Canadian order of precedence, the Order of Canada, or recipients of the Cross of Valour—or by selection by specific officials, such as the Governor General, senators, the Chief of the Defence Staff, or presidents of various non-governmental organisations.[note 1] The Governor General was also permitted to make "exceptional awards" of the medal.[6]

On 30 May 2012, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, presented British jubilee medals to 28 members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, including individuals from the United Kingdom, Australia, Nepal, and Indonesia, as well as representatives from Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which had each been collectively awarded the George Cross between 1942 and 1999, respectively.

Precedence in each realm

Some orders of precedence are as follows:

CountryPrecedingFollowing
Canada
Order of precedence[19]		Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalRoyal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
New Zealand[20]Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalNew Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
United Kingdom
Order of precedence[21]		Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalKing George V long and faithful service medal

History

In keeping with previous jubilees, plans for a commemorative medal were first announced by the Lord President of the Council, Lord Mandelson, in early 2010.[22] The design and eligibility criteria were subsequently announced by the Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Hunt, in the summer of 2011,[23] stating "I hope the official medal will serve as a mark of thanks to all those who give so much in the name of society and public service and I extend my congratulations to all the recipients."[24]

Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258, Toronto, Ontario, 24 February 2013

The Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, announced on 3 February 2011 that the Queen had approved the creation of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and he and Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled the medal's design at Rideau Hall.[25][26] The first medal was struck by the Governor General on 6 December of the same year.[27][28]

On Accession Day 2012, the first Canadian medals were presented to 60 recipients by the Governor General at a ceremony at Rideau Hall and to others at other locations across the country;[29][30] the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, Frank Lewis, awarded the medal to six persons at a ceremony at Government House.[31] It was at the same time announced that each member of the federal parliament (MP) and senator would receive a jubilee medal. At least six Quebec MPs (four belonging to the Bloc Québécois party and two to the New Democratic Party (NDP)) declined the honour.[32] Bloc MP Maria Mourani did so because she felt the medal was a "symbol of colonisation" and to accept it would be offensive to her belief in Quebec sovereignty,[33] while Louis Plamondon stated the money being spent by the Crown on jubilee events and markers was a waste.[34] NDP MP Pierre Nantel stated his then four months in the House of Commons did not warrant such recognition and it should go to a more deserving constituent in his riding.[35]

Two mayors in rural Ontario returned their medals in February 2013, deploring the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' choice to distribute the medals to all sitting mayors, automatically, stating that the award should have been based on merit deserving of the honour.[36]

It was reported in April 2012 that some recipients of the British medal had been criticised for offering their awards for sale on eBay,[17] while ex servicemen and women, the Merchant Navy, and St. John Ambulance were angered at being overlooked due to the "economic climate."[37] Recognising that "some people and organisations might be disappointed," a government spokesman said: "It is also important to maintain the integrity and exclusivity of the medal, and it is simply not possible to include all these groups."[38] The contract to produce the medal and ribbons was awarded to a consortium of small businesses holding royal warrants, led by Worcestershire Medal Service.[39]

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gollark: Triple Canada, silly.

See also

Notes
  1. Allocation of the 60,000 Canadian medals were as follows:
    • 750 to those in the Canadian order of precedence
    • 200 for the Governor General
    • 1,000 amongst the lieutenant governors and territorial commissioners (20 plus pro rata allocation by population to each)
    • 200 for the Prime Minister
    • 25 for the Canadian Secretary to the Queen
    • 1,900 amongst the other ministers of the Crown (50 for each minister or minister of state)
    • 8,100 amongst the Members of Parliament (30 to each Member)
    • 3,120 amongst the senators of Canada (30 to each Senator)
    • 6,000 amongst the provincial and territorial premiers (50 plus pro rata allocation by population to each)
    • 2,700 amongst the members of the Order of Canada and Canadian recipients of the George Cross or the Cross of Valour
    • 11,000 for the Canadian Forces
    • 2,300 for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • 4,000 amongst various municipalities
    • 4,000 amongst various protective services
    • 10,000 for non-governmental organisations
    • 4,000 for public services (allocated pro rata)
    • 705 as replacements and contingency reserve.[6]

References
  1. "Presentation of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal to Corporal Daniel Keighran VC". Governor-General of Australia Events. 1 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 384. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  3. Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 442. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  4. Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 456. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  5. Medal Yearbook 2014. Honiton, Devon: Token Publishing. 2014. p. 293. ISBN 978-1-908828-10-1.
  6. Government of Canada (4 February 2012), "Letters patent creating the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal", Canada Gazette, Queen's Printer for Canada, 146 (5), retrieved 14 June 2012
  7. Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Fact Sheet: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal" (PDF). Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  8. Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal" (PDF). Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  9. "This commemorative medal is designated and styled 'The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal'." Defence Instructions and Notices, Ref. 2011DIN09-012, Ministry of Defence, November 2011.
  10. Ministry of Defence (28 June 2011). "Members of the Armed Forces to receive new medal". Defence News. UK Government. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  11. "Grenada: Diamond Jubilee Medal". CaribDirect. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  12. McCreery, Christopher (19 May 2012). Commemorative Medals of The Queen's Reign in Canada, 1952–2012. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-1459707566.
  13. McCreery, Christopher (19 May 2012). Commemorative Medals of The Queen's Reign in Canada, 1952–2012. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-1459707566.
  14. "Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012". Online medals: Medal Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  15. Government of St. Helena (29 May 2012). "Fifty four Diamond Jubilee Medals to be awarded on St Helena". St Helena Government. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  16. Home Office (15 September 2011). "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  17. Wardrop, Murray (27 April 2012), "Recipients of Queen's Diamond Jubilee medals criticised for selling awards on eBay", The Daily Telegraph, retrieved 16 June 2012
  18. Office of the Governor General of Canada (22 May 2011). "Diamond Jubilee Medal Eligibility Criteria". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  19. "Canadian Honours Chart". The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  20. "Order of wear: orders, decorations and medals in New Zealand". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  21. Directgov, Orders of Wear, UK Government
  22. Queen's Diamond Jubilee Statement Lords Hansard, col. 11, 5 January 2010
  23. Department of Culture, Media and Sport (28 June 2011). "Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal announced". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  24. Directgov (28 June 2011). "Official medal to mark Diamond Jubilee". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  25. Office of the Governor General of Canada (3 February 2011). "Commemorative Medal Created for the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  26. "Canada kicks off festivities for Queen's jubilee". CTV. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  27. Government of Canada Unveils Plans for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, Canada Newswire, Office of the Prime Minister, 6 December 2011, retrieved 8 December 2011
  28. Office of the Governor General of Canada (5 December 2011). "Governor General to Strike Diamond Jubilee Medal at the Royal Canadian Mint". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  29. Office of the Governor General of Canada (6 February 2012). "Sixty Canadians are Honoured During the Inaugural Presentation Ceremony of the Diamond Jubilee Medal at Rideau Hall". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  30. McQuigge, Michelle (7 February 2012), "Canada kicks off four months of celebrations for Queen's Diamond Jubilee", Winnipeg Free Press, retrieved 9 February 2012
  31. Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island (3 February 2012). "Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Begin". Queen's Printer for Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  32. Rakobowchuk, Peter (6 February 2012), "Jubilee hoopla a royal pain for some anti-monarchists who question cost", Winnipeg Free Press, retrieved 6 February 2012
  33. Bourgault-Côté, Guillaume (8 February 2012), "Jubilé de la reine – Pas de médailles pour Ahuntsic", Le Devoir, retrieved 9 February 2012
  34. McQuigge, Michelle (7 February 2012), "Canada kicks off four months of celebrations for Queen's Diamond Jubilee", Winnipeg Free Press, retrieved 9 February 2012
  35. "MP who refused jubilee medal says he's not worthy". CTV. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  36. CBC (13 February 2013), "Ottawa Valley Mayors Return Diamond Jubilee Medals", Huffington Post, retrieved 3 March 2013
  37. "Jubilee medal snub is a slap in the face, says Lincolnshire veteran", Sleaford Target, 4 April 2012, retrieved 16 June 2012
  38. Birchley, Emma (21 January 2012). "Veterans Angered Over Jubilee Medal Snub". Sky News. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  39. Department of Culture, Media and Sport (1 December 2011). "Diamond Jubilee Medal to be produced in the West Midlands". UK Government. Retrieved 7 June 2012.

Further reading
  • McCreery, Christopher (2012), Commemorative Medals of The Queen's Reign in Canada, Dundurn Press, ISBN 978-1-4597-0756-6
  • McCreery, Christopher (2015), The Canadian Honours System 2nd Edition, Dundurn Press, ISBN 978-1-4597-2415-0
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