The Commonwealth Jewish Council has paid tribute to the Queen on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee.

The British monarch is also the head of the Commonwealth, which is made up of 54 countries around the world that are home to a whopping 2.5 billion people.

Clive Lawton OBE, CEO of the CJC which represents Jewish communities across the Commonwealth, paid tribute to Her Majesty's role in binding communities across the Commonwealth in her 70 years on the throne.

Mr Lawton said: "All of us at the Commonwealth Jewish Council wish Her Majesty good health and long life on this unique historical occasion. The Jewish communities of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Europe and Canada recognise and appreciate the strange alchemy of the Commonwealth, so much of it nurtured and sustained by the Queen herself, to bring together nearly a third of all the nations of the world in amity and relationship, sharing and aspiring to a set of values, none of which is fully achieved as yet but all of which are readily endorsed.

"As Head of the Commonwealth, though only Head of a decreasing number of its member states, the Queen has shown the way in gracious acceptance of things that change while standing steadfast by the things that should not.

"Jews of course must warmly recognise the difficulty but essential wisdom of such an approach. It is the secret too of Jewish survival!

He added: "Too many in the UK fail to understand how important, remarkable and valuable the Commonwealth is. In fact, it might be true that it is Her Majesty's greatest achievement that it still exists and flourishes well into the 21st century and that countries are still queuing up to join."