Page 94 - KRH Regimental Journal 2022

92 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
The Worshipful Company of Salters’: Royal Jubilees and trees
On 25 October 1809 (the 49th anniversary of his accession and the start of the 50th year of King George III), the King and other members of the Royal Family attended a private service at Windsor Castle and a grand fete and firework display at Frogmore. In London and across the country, religious celebrations and par- ties took place. The Salters’ Court minutes of 2 November 1809 record that a donation of five guineas would be made “towards the Subscription for the relief of the poor Inhabitants of the Ward of Walbrook on occasion of the Jubilee on his Majesty’s entrance on the 50th year of his Reign”.
Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee on 20 and 21 June 1887 on a grander scale than George III had done. Various lav- ish events at Buckingham Palace included a firework display, two royal banquets and a balcony appearance in front of huge cheer- ing crowds, along with a procession and service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, all attended by many distinguished guests including 50 foreign kings and princes. The focus of the celebra- tions at the Salters’ Company was to present various commemo- rative gifts to its members, almshouse residents, pensioners and staff. The Court minutes of 1887 record that each Liveryman and Freewoman was presented with a pair of silver and gilt spoons, designed by Charles Henry Lardner Woodd (Master 1883). An additional note in the Index to the Court minutes of 1887 reveals that Chinese lamps were hung on the gates and trees in the fore- court of Salters’ Hall (then located in St. Swithin’s Lane) on 21 June, as part of the Company’s jubilee celebrations.
There were many celebrations across the country for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in June 1897 – the first Diamond Jubilee of any British monarch. Highlights included a proces- sion and service of thanksgiving for the Queen outside St Paul’s Cathedral, as she was too frail to climb the cathedral steps. Afterwards the procession continued across London Bridge to south London, returning to Buckingham Palace past the Houses of Parliament. The Salters’ Company was represented at the St. Paul’s service by seven members of its Court of Assistants.
Moving forward 38 years, the first Silver Jubilee of any British monarch was celebrated on 6 May 1935. This day marked 25 years of George V and Queen Mary’s reign and was declared a bank holiday, with garden parties, pageants and sports events held all over the country. The first ‘jubilee chicken’ recipe was created, using chicken, mayonnaise and curry powder (very dif- ferent from the coronation chicken recipe created for Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953). King George and Queen Mary’s celebra- tions included a carriage procession through London to St. Paul’s for a service of thanksgiving, followed by a balcony appearance
HRH The Duke of Kent KG meeting Salters’ affiliated cadets during the Platinum Jubilee tree planting
at Buckingham Palace with other members of the Royal Family and visiting royals from Europe. The Salters’ Company elected to mark George V’s Silver Jubilee as it had done for George III’s Golden Jubilee 126 years earlier, in a lower key but nevertheless significant manner: the Court minutes of 4 April 1935 record that a charitable donation of 1000 guineas was made towards King George’s Jubilee Trust. The purpose of the Trust was to provide funding for gymnasiums and outdoor activities for young people in cities and rural areas across the country.
Now to 2022 and the Platinum Jubilee of our late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Salters’ Company decided to celebrate this sig- nificant milestone by supporting Her Majesty’s much publicised Green Canopy campaign. Salter and Liveryman, HRH The Duke of Kent kindly agreed to plant a tree in the Salters’ Garden on the Salters’ Election day in June. Although ultimately a sad year with the passing of our late Majesty, the planting was a fitting tribute and now lasting reminder of our late Majesty Queen Elizabeth in the magnificence the Salters’ Garden.
Tim Smith, Clerk
HRH The Duke of Kent KG planting a tree in Salters’ Garden to mark HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee