Celebrations for the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee will focus on a festive four-day bank holiday weekend in June.
The unprecedented anniversary, the first time a British monarch has reached a Platinum Jubilee, was on Sunday, February 6, the date the Queen acceded to the throne on the death of her father George VI in 1952.
But, as has been the custom for Elizabeth II’s past jubilees, official commemorations take place four months later when there is a greater chance of warm, dry weather.
The royal extravaganza includes a live pop concert at Buckingham Palace, Jubilee lunches and the lighting of beacons across the world.
A nationwide royal bake-off competition to design a Platinum Pudding dedicated to the Queen is under way, while The Queen’s Green Canopy project has seen thousands of trees planted in commemoration of the monarch’s 70 years of service.
One event, in particular, which is much-anticipated is the Platinum Jubilee Pageant – as Nicholas Coleridge states: "no monarch has earned [one] before, since none has ruled for so long".
Ten thousand people will get involved, with performers from every part of the country and Commonwealth – military and creatives, dancers and supermodels – all converging on the route leading to Buckingham Palace on Sunday, June 5.
This royal pageant will be Queen Elizabeth II’s fourth – and only the eighth in history. The first was in honour of George III in 1809, followed by two for Queen Victoria to celebrate her Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
When is the Platinum Jubilee Pageant and can you get tickets?
Sunday, June 5, sees the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, where a dragon puppet larger than a double-decker bus, marching bands and circus acts will celebrate the Queen’s reign on the streets of London.
Organisers said the event, with a privately funded budget of between £10million and £15million, is expected to be one of the biggest celebratory events held for decades.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant is open to everyone and will be live-streamed online.
A selection of primary and secondary school children from across the UK will play a part in the ‘River of Hope’ procession during the pageant – but the organisers encourage people all over the country – and world – to come together and celebrate within their own local communities.
