Queen Elizabeth II Won't Celebrate Sapphire Jubilee; Will Commemorate Father's Death Instead

Queen Elizabeth II is set to celebrate 65 years on the throne on Feb. 6, but the British monarch will not be spending it with parades and confetti. Instead, Queen Elizabeth II will spend her Sapphire Jubilee quietly and somberly in commemoration of the death of her father, King George VI.

Queen Elizabeth II's Sapphire Jubilee will be solemn and somber

The Queen is the first ruler to reach a Sapphire Jubilee in Britain. Queen Victoria reached her Diamond Jubilee and was the longest-reigning monarch in the country until Elizabeth II surpassed her in 2015. While Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee was well-celebrated, this one will be more solemn.

Dickie Arbiter, the Queen's former press secretary told the Telegraph that this was the day the Queen's father had died at the young age of 56. Queen Elizabeth II will reportedly attend church a day before her Sapphire Jubilee. On the day itself, she will remain at the Sandringham estate (where her father spent his last days) to contemplate on her long reign "as a consequence of her father's early death".

Queen Elizabeth II, nicknamed Lilibet was only 25 years old when her father died. She was then crowned in 1953 in Westminster Abbey. When she married Prince Philip in 1974, her father gave her a necklace and a pair of sapphire earrings. A decade after her coronation, she had a matching tiara and bracelet made.

Royal Mint to release commemorative coins for the event

The 90-year-old queen is one of the longest-ruling monarchs in history. Louis XIV of France was king for 72 years while King Bhumipol of Thailand ruled for 70. This year, there won't be a celebration, but the country will still do something to commemorate their queen's long reign.

The Nation reports that the Royal Mint will produce custom-designed coins for the Sapphire Jubilee. The £5 coins on that day will bear a short excerpt from a speech she gave in 1947 back when she was still a princess: "My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service."