Queen's Vow To The Nation In Jubilee Speech

The Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee today with a speech rededicating herself to the service of the nation, pledging to "visit towns and cities up and down the land" in the coming months.

In an often touching address to both Houses of Parliament the monarch paid tribute to her family and in particular her husband who she called her "constant strength and guide".

In the ancient Westminster Hall the monarch told MPs and peers that since she came to the throne "the support of my family has, across the generations, been beyond measure".

She added: "Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide."

This was the monarch's sixth address to both Houses of Parliament. She gave similar speeches in celebration of her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Silver Jubilee 25 years earlier in 1977.

Among the guests were Prime Minister David Cameron , his deputy Nick Clegg, former premiers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and Labour leader Ed Miliband.

The event is part of the traditional dialogue between the monarch and Parliament where Houses, either individually or together, present an address and the Sovereign replies.

Earlier, Commons Speaker John Bercow told the assembled crowd that the Queen's most profound contribution had been her continuity, saying: "You have moved with the times and allowed the times to move around the rest of society."

He called the monarch "a kaleidoscope queen of a kaleidoscope country in a kaleidoscope Commonwealth".

It was a theme the Queen warmed to in her own speech, saying: "My own association with the Commonwealth has taught me that the most important contact between nations is usually contact between its peoples.

"An organisation dedicated to certain values, the Commonwealth has flourished and grown by successfully promoting and protecting that contact."

Members of the Royal Family have begun touring the Queen's realms to mark her Diamond Jubilee, with Prince Harry recently returning from a trip to Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

The Queen said she hoped the Diamond Jubilee celebrations would "be an opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of neighbourliness and celebration of their own communities".

The work of millions in the professional and voluntary services, whose efforts were for the public good, would also be recognised this year as would the "remarkable sacrifice and courage of our armed forces," she said.

"Much may have indeed have changed these past 60 years but the valour of those who risk their lives for the defence and freedom of us all remains undimmed," she added.

The address drew a standing ovation.

During the event, a Diamond Jubilee window - a gift from the members of both Houses - was unveiled to mark the monarch's 60-year reign.

It will be installed above the North Door of Westminster Hall later this year.