Big celebrations: the Queen marks 60 years on the throne today (February 6 2012) Pic: ©Jonathon Hordle/Rex Features
Queen Elizabeth II marked the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne today (February 6 2012), by paying a visit to a town hall and a school in Norfolk.
The anniversary of the Queen's accession is usually marked privately as it is the day the monarch’s father passed away.
But today HRH celebrated the landmark date in Norfolk, by travelling to King's Lynn Town Hall - which she, her mother and grandmother visited in 1946 - for a tour and to meet local dignitaries. She also paid a visit to Dersingham Infant and Nursery School.
Marking her 60th year on the throne, the Queen, now 85, also pledged to continue supporting the public, thanking people for the “encouragement” they have shown her and her husband, Prince Philip.
A message released by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Queen Elizabeth said: "Today, as I mark 60 years as your Queen, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years and to tell you how deeply moved we have been to receive so many kind messages about the Diamond Jubilee.
"In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth.
"I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with a clear head and warm heart as we join together in our celebrations. I send my sincere good wishes to you all."
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is a momentous occasion; she is, after all, only the second UK monarch to mark 60 years on the throne.
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Celebrations will continue throughout the year, but the main focus will be around the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend, running from June 2-5.
Over this four-day weekend, events staged will include a concert at Buckingham Palace, the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, and a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage procession.
There will be a series of other events held locally, and on a national and international scale, and the Royal Family will travel across the globe to countries including Canada and Jamaica, as well as extensively around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Members of the Royal Family will visit Scotland from July 2 to 6, as part of Holyrood Week.
The Queen took over as monarch on February 6 1952, after her father, George VI, died unexpectedly in his sleep while his daughter was on tour in Kenya.
The 25-year-old princess and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, immediately ended the tour, which should have taken them on to Australia and New Zealand. And when the princess set foot on British soil, she officially became the Queen – changing her life forever.
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