Another year, another Jubilee. We’ve got used to these monarchical milestones in recent years. However, the celebrations in Sweden this September for the half century of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s rule have their own claim to fame. For the Swedish monarch is marking a true Jubilee.
On September 15th 2023, the longest reigning king in Europe will mark the 50th anniversary of his reign. And that makes this milestone a genuine Jubilee, according to the earliest definitions.
The word ‘Jubilee’ comes from the Bible. It’s found in the Book of Leviticus. Seven periods of seven years come to an end with the celebration of a ‘Jubilee’. Enter King Carl Gustaf. For a true Jubilee monarch is celebrating a half century of rule.
It’s one of the reasons Jubilees were unheard of until the 19th century. The first regal celebration came in 1809 for King George III. Then, it was rare for monarchs to live long enough to reach a half century of rule. Furthermore, Jubilees were seen as a religious celebration. Leading clerics had held Jubilees to mark personal milestones but the idea of secular rulers holding them was unheard of in the Middle Ages and through the Reformation. But by the 19th century, the world was changing. George III had lived long enough to reach a Jubilee and ardent royalists, concerned at anti monarchical sentiment in Europe, saw it as an ideal chance to bolster the Monarchy. The concept of a royal Jubilee, with official celebrations and popular festivities, was born.
George’s granddaughter, Queen Victoria, continued the idea. However, she was quite insistent that the celebrations take place on the actual 50th anniversary of her reign. The original concept of a Jubilee was for the party to start at the beginning of the 50th year and end once the half century was completed. However, although Victoria enjoyed plenty of private celebrations in the run up to her Jubilee, the big party came after exactly 50 years had passed. But the suggestion of a bigger change would alter Jubilees forever.
The celebrations for Victoria in 1887 had been so popular, and had made such an impression for Britain on the world stage, that politicians began to push for a repeat. They suggested a party for her 60th anniversary which Victoria initially dismissed as ridiculous. A jubilee was a fifty year celebration, not a moveable feast. However, she was persuaded to change her mind and the concept of a Diamond Jubilee was born.
The success of jubilees was beginning to spread and soon the idea of a ‘Silver’ Jubilee for 25 years was born. Victoria was far from amused, dismissing one held in 1897 as a ”half Jubilee”. The monarch in question wasn’t even named in her diaries. He was, in fact, the King of Sweden.
Oscar II marked a quarter of a century of rule in September 1897. Despite Victoria’s reservations, it was a huge success. Now, a man descended from both Oscar and Victoria is about to mark his own special royal moment. King Carl XVI Gustaf’s year of celebrations is a true Jubilee.
You can read more about royal Jubilees over the centuries in the new book by our Associate Editor. ‘A History of British Royal Jubilees’ is available from Amazon and Pen and Sword books.
