Queen Victoria surpassed her grandfather King George III as the longest-reigning British monarch on 23 September 1896, an event that she marked privately at Balmoral Castle.

The Diamond Jubilee was therefore an opportunity to celebrate Victoria's status as the longest-reigning monarch, in addition to marking 60 years on the throne.

[1] The occasion was marked publicly two days later by the Festival of the British Empire proposed by Joseph Chamberlain, who promoted the idea of a global celebration fit for a monarch ruling over 450 million people.

The British Army and Royal Navy as well as troops from Canada, India, Africa and the South Pacific took part in the procession in London.

Suffering from severe arthritis and unable to climb the steps, the Queen remained in her coach, so the short service of thanksgiving was held outside the building.

[3]Thousands of residents in London and Manchester took part in street feasts, where Thomas Lipton distributed free ale and tobacco.

[3] A chain of beacons were lit across the United Kingdom and Nottingham, Bradford and Hull were granted their city charter as part of the celebrations.

[3] The celebrations lasted a fortnight and a garden party at Buckingham Palace and a state banquet were held to mark the occasion.

[4] People across Canada staged their own jubilee celebrations in honour of the Queen; Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier led the Canadian delegation to the festivities in London.

A Winnipeg journalist wrote that the festivities "showed how patriotism can bind in joyous and fraternal bonds elements of every nation and creed".

Many of the patriotic vocal works of the Jubilee year combined expressions of Canadian loyalty with effusive panegyrics to Victoria.

Thy faithful subjects o'er the sea, Greet thee with tender loyalty!Another distinctive feature of Canadian festivities was their focus on children.

It featured several well-known patriotic and traditional songs, as well as other pieces created especially for the occasion, in addition to renditions of God Save the Queen, The Maple Leaf Forever, and Rule, Britannia!.