Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee treasures to be auctioned for Cancer Research UK
Queen Elizabeth II The ceremonial artifacts used by Elizabeth during her jubilee celebrations will be auctioned and all proceeds will go towards supporting cancer patients.
Six works, many designed by the late monarch’s showman Bruno Peek for various landmark events, will go under the hammer in March to benefit Cancer Research UK.
Among the collection is the Diamond Jubilee “diamond”, which was prominently displayed in the Tower of London before being used by the Queen in 2012.
Also on display are the millennium torch lit to celebrate the dawn of the year 2000 and the 90th birthday torch used at Windsor Castle in 2016.
Completing the range is a torch from the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Nations Globe, the centerpiece of the 2022 celebrations at Windsor Castle.
Mr Peek, from Gorleston in Norfolk, was Elizabeth’s showman for 40 years.
During this time, he also planned worldwide guiding tributes for its golden, diamond and platinum jubilees, as well as VE Day anniversary commemorations.
The 74-year-old artist said of his time as a showman: “The Queen and the royal family have shown me so much kindness over the years.
“They were very encouraging and kind. I felt privileged, honored and comfortable with the Queen.”
Recalling the moment there was an equipment glitch during the lighting of the Diamond Jubilee lantern at Buckingham Palace with Elizabeth Elizabeth, Mr Peek said: “I whispered to her – ‘can you give it a little push, ma’am?’
“And he said, ‘I don’t care at all,’ and pushed it hard to the applause of the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the concert on The Mall that evening.”
The former welder said he last saw the late Queen in June 2022 when a beacon was switched on to commemorate her Platinum Jubilee.
“We all understood that the Queen was not well and we did not expect her to pull this off,” he said.
“But because she is a great Queen, she surprised us all and came.
“The last thing he said to me after he turned on the light was, ‘Thank you, Bruno.’
“It was a beautiful moment that I will remember for the rest of my life, but it was also very sad because he died a few days later.”
Commenting on the upcoming auction, Mr Peek said: “These items are mine but I could never sell them for personal gain.
“Given that the King and Catherine, Princess of Wales are both being treated for cancer, I thought it was appropriate to use them to raise money for Cancer Research UK.”
The items are estimated to sell for around £20,000 to £30,000 each at a virtual auction at Bonhams in March.
Mr Peek, who staged the Millennium Beacon project, was awarded an OBE in 2000, became a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) for organizing the 2002 Golden Jubilee beacons and was made a Lieutenant in 2012 for repeating the Diamond Jubilee success. He also staged the Queen’s 90th birthday lanterns in 2016.
He was recognized again for his services alongside others who helped stage the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and became RVO Commander.
Born to Polish immigrants, Mr Peek was abandoned with his twin brother George when he was 14 months old and raised in a children’s home before being adopted when he was four.
Before training as a welder, Mr Peek had a number of jobs, including working in a bakery and butcher, making prams and being a construction worker.
After organizing the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston carnival more than 40 years ago, Mr Peek said he realized he wanted to help organize the historic celebrations and approached the palace with ideas which were later accepted.
