London ( CNN ) -- Queen Elizabeth II pledged to rededicate herself to the service of her people Tuesday , as she addressed both houses of Parliament as part of celebrations of her Diamond Jubilee , or 60 years on the throne . Dignitaries including present and former government leaders gathered for the speech in Westminster Hall , in London , in which the Queen reflected on the landmark . `` We are reminded here of our past , of the continuity of our national story and the virtues of resilience , ingenuity and tolerance which created it , '' she said . `` I have been privileged to witness some of that history and , with the support of my family , rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come . '' She was presented with a stained-glass window specially commissioned by members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to commemorate the occasion . Made up of 1,500 pieces of glass , it was paid for by personal contributions from the lawmakers and peers and will be on permanent display in the grand environs of Westminster Hall . Queen Elizabeth commented that she is the second British monarch to mark 60 years on the throne , with Queen Victoria the first to do so in 1897 . `` So , in an era when the regular , worthy rhythm of life is less eye-catching than doing something extraordinary , I am reassured that I am merely the second sovereign to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee , '' she said . Queen Elizabeth previously addressed both houses of Parliament when she celebrated her Silver and Golden Jubilees , in 1977 and 2002 respectively . She also opens the new session of Parliament each year . Addressing the packed hall , the British monarch recognized the `` remarkable courage and sacrifice '' of the armed forces , and the many people who serve the public good by volunteering . During her many years on the throne , the support of her own family had been `` beyond measure , '' she said . She paid special tribute to the contribution of her husband , Prince Philip , who accompanies her on many of her official visits and suffered a health scare at the end of last year . `` Prince Philip is , I believe , well-known for declining compliments of any kind . But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide , '' she said . She also praised the efforts of the younger generations of royals and commented on the family 's `` close affinity '' with the Commonwealth nations , which together encompass about a third of the world 's population . `` My own association with the Commonwealth has taught me that the most important contact between nations is usually contact between its peoples , '' she said . Prince Harry , the 27-year-old son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana , traveled through the Caribbean and Brazil earlier this month on a 10-day tour to mark his grandmother 's Diamond Jubilee . Celebrations marking six decades on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II officially began last month and continue through June , when London will mark the anniversary of her coronation with festivities including up to 1,000 boats sailing up the River Thames . Though the 85-year-old monarch has no real political power , she is officially the head of state for the Commonwealth of Nations , an association of 16 countries that used to be part of the British Empire . CNN 's Max Foster contributed to this report .
Queen Elizabeth II praises her people 's `` virtues of resilience , ingenuity and tolerance '' She spoke to both houses of Parliament as she marks 60 years on the throne . A stained glass window was presented to the monarch by Parliament . The Diamond Jubilee celebrations will culminate in June .