Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell has spoken of his delight at the 60th anniversary this week of Her Majesty's ascension to the throne.
2012 will see the Olympic Games coming to London this summer as well as a series of events to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee; there will also be an extra bank holiday this year on June 5th. A diamond jubilee medal and a national competition for city status and lord mayoralities will both be honours granted by the Queen to selected towns and cities.
The Queen has also launched a project to plant six million trees native to Britain, creating new woods across the country to mark her Diamond Jubilee. Her Majesty planted an oak in the new 20-acre Jubilee Wood on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
As the Monarch celebrates the milestone, Mr Mundell reflected on what will be a landmark year for the Queen, Britain and the Commonwealth: "Even in these straightened times, our country has a lot to look forward to and be proud of this year. The Queen continues to fulfil her role as head of state with devotion and hard work, and has reaffirmed how enduring an institution the British monarchy still is. I salute her remarkable achievement."
ENDS