Accents of Europe

Elizabeth II's Jubilee: ultra-popular in her country, but criticized in Commonwealth countries

Audio 7:30 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth II (in 2011).

© Christopher Furlong/AP

By: Léa-Lisa Westerhoff Follow

2 mins

The British celebrated, from June 2 to 5, 2022, the 70 years of reign of Elizabeth II.

A platinum jubilee celebrated with fervor by the British, because no British sovereign has ever reigned as long as Elizabeth II, who ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 at the age of 25.

70 years crossed, marked by crises.

The first in 1936, when her uncle Edward VIII abdicated, making the very young princess the heir to the crown.

She is only 10 years old, her life changes.

At 14, Elizabeth gave her first speech on British radio, a return to the sound archives of these years of reign with Juliette Rengeval.

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A Platinum Jubilee which is an opportunity to celebrate a queen who is still as popular in her country even if she is weakened by health problems, and very often replaced by Prince Charles, her eldest son, as Marc Roche explains, journalist in London for 35 years.

Author of three biographies of Elizabeth II, this specialist in the English Monarchy has just published “ 

 ” with Albin Michel.

At the microphone of

, he returns to this love of the British for their monarchy.

But if the queen is popular in her country, the monarchy is facing growing criticism, especially in the former colonies, concerning the slave past of the British Empire.

Because Elizabeth II is also head of the Commonwealth and therefore of 14 other kingdoms, such as Jamaica, Canada or New Zealand.

In these countries, the monarchy is increasingly criticized.

After Barbados last year (2021), Jamaica has indicated that it wants to cut the cord with the crown, a reminder of a colonial or even slavery past that is too painful to become a Republic.

This is the report by

In Northern Ireland, we also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the reign of the Queen of England, but only on the Protestant side.

The majority of Catholics have nothing to do with the United Kingdom, which they want to leave to join the Republic of Ireland, which is still in Europe.

Result: the Protestant Northern Irish people fight to preserve their British culture.

Our correspondent,

their concerns during the parade which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the country last weekend.

(Rebroadcast June 2, 2022)

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• UK

• Elizabeth II

• North Ireland

• Commonwealth

• Jamaica

• Canada

• New Zealand

• Barbados

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