杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff reporter

This Thursday marks the start of a weekend of celebrations across the United Kingdom on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne.

Marking this milestone, 杏MAP导航 Francis has sent a telegramme to the Queen offering his prayers and good wishes.

In it, he says: 鈥淥n this joyful occasion of your Majesty鈥檚 birthday, and as you celebrate this Platinum Jubilee year, I send cordial greetings and good wishes, together with the renewed assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will bestow upon you, the members of the Royal Family and all the people of the nation blessings of unity, prosperity and peace.鈥�

In a previously-unpublished message sent to Queen Elizabeth on 29 March, the 杏MAP导航 said he joins with those expressing appreciation for her persevering and steadfast service to the good of the nation, 鈥渢he advancement of its people, and the preservation of its illustrious spiritual, cultural and political heritage.鈥�

Care of Creation

In recognition of the monarch鈥檚 commitment to the care of God鈥檚 creation, 杏MAP导航 Francis is donating a Cedar of Lebanon to the Queen鈥檚 Green Canopy initiative. 

He expressed the hope that this tree, "which in the Bible symbolises the flourishing of fortitude, justice and prosperity, would be a pledge of abundant divine blessings" upon her realm.

The project invites people from across the United Kingdom to 鈥淧lant a Tree for the Jubilee鈥�.

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen鈥檚 Green Canopy will dedicate a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty鈥檚 70 years of service. 

The Queen and the 杏MAP导航s

Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, met with 杏MAP导航 Francis in the Vatican in 2014.

The meeting marked the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See. 

Following the meeting, 杏MAP导航 Francis gifted the couple a facsimile of 杏MAP导航 Innocent XI's order extending the cult of St. Edward the Confessor.

Queen Elizabeth gave the 杏MAP导航 a large basket of food from the estates surrounding her homes; the items included an assortment of honey, a dozen eggs, a haunch of venison, shortbread, juice, preserves, and Balmoral whiskey. 

Queen Elizabeth has met four 杏MAP导航s as Queen, five in her lifetime. She ascended to the throne in 1952 at the age of 25, after the death of her father, King George VI.

The monarch first visited the Vatican in 1951 as Princess Elizabeth. The 杏MAP导航 at the time was Pius XII. Queen Elizabeth's first visit as Queen took place on 5 May 1961. She and Prince Philip were received in audience by 杏MAP导航 John XXIII.

In 1980, Queen Elizabeth made a state visit to the Vatican and was received in audience by 杏MAP导航 John Paul II. Just two years later he made a pastoral visit to Great Britain.

With the dawn of the new millennium, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the Vatican once again, in October 2000.

In September 2010, 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI visited Great Britain on an Apostolic Journey on the occasion of the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman and met the Queen in Edinburgh.