Platinum Jubilee

The National Archives has created some resources for you to use in your classroom with our video to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

The film tells the story of Elizabeth II’s 70 years as Queen using genuine historical sources from The National Archives and The Royal Collections. It includes music and some original footage from the period. Pupils take a historical journey through the decades, from the 1950s to 2020s. We hope that the commentary and documents will encourage your pupils to explore the past and ask questions about how the Queen’s role has changed and life in Britain altered over time.

You can find out more about the Queen’s Jubilee with the Royal Collection Trust’s School Resources.

Download the resource pack (.zip, 4.6MB)

Life in 1950s Britain

Focus: To encourage pupils to use original sources to find out about the past in the first decade of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Life in 1960s Britain

Focus:  To encourage pupils to use original sources to find out about life in the 1960s; the second decade in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Role of a Queen – Mary I and Anne

Focus: Following on from the Jubilee Assembly video, pupils look at the role of two other female monarchs; Mary I and Queen Anne.

Role of a Queen – Matilda and Elizabeth I

Focus: Building on earlier activities, pupils look at further sources relating to past female monarchs and continue to investigate differences and similarities.

What is a Jubilee?

Focus: To encourage pupils to use original sources to find out about how Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1897.

Activity Pack

Design your own commemorative stamp and complete our Jubilee word search.