Joseph Chamberlain, the man who was appointed Colonial secretary in 1895 was one of the chief instigators of the celebrations. He was deeply committed to the consolidation and expansion of the empire and was enthusiastic for Great Britain to display the achievements of the British people and of the glory of the British Empire.
The Diamond Jubilee was hoped to make the vast majority of the British people feel proud of their country and its successes throughout the world. If this could be achieved then it was thought that the British public would be more content with their lives at home. “It was a British version of the ancient Roman formula of Bread and circuses”.
It was an event in which all could share, from the highest members of society to the most humble everyone could experience in the wonder and delight of the jubilee, and perhaps even, if only for a short time, forget ones own troubles. It was however, surprising the number of spectators that were ignorant about the empire and its native peoples.
The use of the word ‘diamond’ was significant, it was wrapped up in newfound inventions of imperial tradition. The word diamond reminded people of the affluence of the Empire, the diamond fields of South Africa and as a result, the accessibility of such jewellery to a wide British audience.
Imperial propagandists lost no time in cashing in on the imagery and symbolism of the Jubilee. Many imperialists also took great delight in the representation of the various subjects of the empire in the magnificent procession to and from St Paul’s on 22 June.
A great deal of pride was taken from watching the procession. The sheer size of some of the participants was enough to confirm to some, the greatness of the British people and her subject peoples. Captain Ames, at 6ft 8” the tallest man in the British army, headed the jubilee procession in an attempt to confirm that the British were not only the best but they were also the biggest.
The Diamond Jubilee was a celebration of Empire and monarchy. The processions blazed with exotic and colourful uniforms and costumes. The Queen’s picture decorated souvenir mugs for all school children as well as flags, bunting, plates, dishes, handkerchiefs and a huge range of commercially produced merchandise from chocolates and condensed milk to Colman’s mustard. “One could see the Jubilee years as ushering in the age of consumerism, with the royal image firmly planted on the mass-produced articles which celebrated its arrival”.
Through a variety of speeches and tabloid articles the concept of Empire was promoted as a great international institution, run by a benevolent family back home in the motherland of Great Britain. The British people were again hailed as natural leaders and the bringers of Christianity, Civilization and Commerce to the rest of the world.
Although the diamond jubilee was a momentous event in the history of Great Britain it is necessary to look further at the prevailing mood of the time. Perhaps the reason that the jubilee was such an uplifting, spectacular event was because generally the mood of the people was one of fear and pessimism. The majority of Britain’s leaders and opinion makers chose not to articulate these negative feelings, but there was a deep-seated anxiety among the British people about what the future might hold for the nation and the empire, especially during the imminent new century.
The public at this time needed reassurance that they were still part of a strong nation and the celebrations of 1897 provided them if only for a short-lived time with the proof that they so desperately needed. There were problems at home and abroad that affected British sense of security. The re-emergence of France as heavyweight and expansionist force on the world stage, and as a serious European rival proved to be very unsettling, as did the arrival of newly united, colonising nations such as Italy and Germany. These countries put Britain under immense, unwelcome pressure. Further challenges included the threats posed to British manufacturing and commercial supremacy by countries such as the United States and Germany.
Many late Victorians were becoming concerned about a number of perceived challenges from within Britain. The adulteration and processing of foodstuffs and the dilution of beer worried many, as did the rise in mass trade unionism, the issue of Irish Nationalism, and the dangers associated with the rise of domestic socialism. There was a general feeling of anxiety, which affected many during this period. Events such as the conviction of Oscar Wilde in 1895 for homosexual activities seemed to confirm to many that Britain was on a downward slope towards degradation and decline.
In the late Victorian period Britain’s naval domination was under threat. Germany had confirmed in the 1898 Navy law that she intended to build a modern fleet. The United States was also rapidly growing into a great naval power. These factors put pressure on the British and again seemed to confirm to many, that Great Britain was loosing her dominant position on the international stage. Britain began to worry that she was being pushed out by other nations. It was this fear that prompted her to take such an active role in the scramble for Africa. It was feared that the world was running out of space and that in order to stay one step ahead of the game, Britain needed to acquire as much territory as she could. This period has come to be known as the ‘high noon of imperialism’ as many European countries scrambled to gain as much territory and as much control over native peoples and resources as they could.
As the turn of the century approached, this feeling of running out of time was exacerbated. The nineteenth century had been viewed as the century in which Britain had triumphed over all other nations, imperial expansion and naval supremacy had been the order if the day. The period also saw a rise in living standards at home. As the century drew to a close these successes seemed to be dying and the balance of world power seemed to be irrevocably shifting. During the 1890’s Britain found herself without allies and disliked by many in the United States and Europe.
It was also becoming increasingly evident that the three most influential political figureheads of the time, Queen Victoria, W. Gladstone and Lord Salisbury were nearing the ends of their lives. This was bound to have an impact on British society as they helplessly witnessed their country, their stability and indeed their prosperity changing right before their eyes. From the 1870’s the mid- Victorian economic boom began to end, this was partly due to intense competition from other manufacturing and industrial countries. Throughout the 1890’s there were a number of economic depressions, and in 1896 there occurred the ‘Great Depression’. This further highlighted the need of a morale boosting celebration like the Diamond Jubilee.
Queen Victoria died four years after the Diamond Jubilee in January 1901.
“Victoria had the capacity to symbolise greatness and to encapsulate and encourage feelings of security”. It is accurate to state that Victoria was not a great intellectual and she had been extremely self-absorbed after the death of her beloved husband Albert in 1861. She was however, hailed as the ‘Great white queen over the water’ by people within the empire. And it is astonishing that her popularity was so strong abroad even though she did not travel to the countries that she governed. The Empress of India never set foot on Indian soil, nor did she go to Nigeria Canada, the Cape or Singapore.
During the late Victorian period many people were living under conditions of extreme hardship. Industrialization had moved countless numbers into factories and workshops, conditions that few were used to. The lack of freedom and the industrial regulations that they found themselves subject to had a significant affect on the lives of many Victorian working class men and women. At the same time, these people were being denied by the British constitution their full political freedom. Until 1918 women could not vote, nor could 40% of adult men. It is within this environment that we can see how many people took great pleasure in the successes of the British army or the Royal Navy. It was in a sense a sense of escapism and even to some a justification for the sufferings back home. This feeling of national pride became tied up with imperialist sentiment.
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations confirmed to the British public, and indeed to the rest of the world that her achievements had been great and that she would continue to be a dominant figure in world affairs. This process of ‘inventing tradition’ promoted factors such as the longevity of Queen Victoria and the long running accomplishments of Britain’s imperial mission. It was under this propaganda that the nations faltering sense of national purpose could be challenged. Queen Victoria was seen to be the fundamental link between the various countries within the empire. She was a focal point of respect within Great Britain and abroad.
Therefore it is evident that the celebrations of 1897 had a dual purpose, it was both a means of stressing British achievements and also of boosting national pride. It also helped to divert attention away from the problems at home and instead placed the focus on the success of empire. It did not however, change anything in the way of the imperial structure and ultimately was no more then a confidence boosting exercise for the Victorian people.
In January 1901 Queen Victoria died. Already, well before 1901, the reality of the Victorian age was over, and now even its symbol was gone. She had reigned for 64 years. When Victoria died, she left the throne secure enough to weather the accession of her son, whom Kipling described as ‘a corpulent voluptuary of no importance’. Her fears that his intellectual and moral limitations would discredit the crown proved unfounded, and although he never reigned under the title she had asked him to use, that of ‘King Albert’, he did nothing in his short reign to diminish the solid edifice that the reign had established.
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