Singapore held one of its biggest colonial celebrations over two days on 27 and 28 June 1887 as the crown colony joined other British territories worldwide to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 50-year reign, also called the Golden Jubilee.[1] While the grandeur and pomp were a show of the strength and unity of the British Empire under the leadership of the Queen,[2] the fervent devotion belied a growing insecurity that the British hold on its empire was slipping, and that Britain’s status as the greatest empire was under threat by the imperial ambitions of other European nations such as France and Germany.[3]
The highlights of the first day of celebrations included a parade held at the Padang where then Governor Frederick Weld also unveiled a $20,446 bronze statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, and the fireworks display at the Government House grounds in the evening.[4] The next day, the various local communities staged elaborate processions, most of which passed through Singapore Town, in a display of loyalty to the Queen and the British monarchy. Capping the two days of festivities was a ball held at the Government House in the evening.[5]
The longevity of Queen Victoria’s reign afforded her another jubilee celebration ten years later. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, to mark her 60-year rule, was held in June 1897.[6]
References
1. The Jubilee. (1887, July 6). Straits Times Weekly Issue, p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Jubilee celebration, Singapore. (1887, June 29), Straits Times Weekly Issue, p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Porter, B. (2006). Empire and superempire: Britain, America and the world (pp. 30–31). New Haven: Yale University Press. Call no.: R 325.320973090511 POR; Piers, B. (2007). The decline and fall of the British Empire, 1781–1997 (p. 193). London: Jonathan Cape. Call no.: RSING 909.0971241 BRE.
4. Straits Times Weekly Issue, 6 Jul 1887, p. 7; Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers’ Singapore: Then & now (p. 2). Singapore: Landmark Books. Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE-[HIS].
5. Straits Times Weekly Issue, 29 Jun 1887, p. 7.
6. The Diamond Jubilee. (1897, June 14). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.