In honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee, the British get a long weekend. Those celebrations are coming up.
From Thursday (June 2nd) to Sunday (June 5th) there is a celebration marathon in Great Britain. On these four days the festivities for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (96) take place. Brits are celebrating their Queen’s 70th year on the throne. The monarch is honored in various ceremonies throughout the year. The upcoming long weekend is the highlight for both the Queen and the British. These events are waiting for the guests.
Thursday: “Trooping the Color” and beacon
Thursday begins with the annual Trooping the Color parade. As every year, the birthday pageant for Queen Elizabeth II takes place in London. The event starts at 11am UK time. Tickets for the parade are already sold out, but the event will also be broadcast internationally in St. James’ Park and on BBC and Sky. The highlight, however, comes after the move: when the military returns to Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family appears on the balcony.
In addition, a string of beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth cities on Thursday. This tradition has been performed on royal anniversaries since the 19th century. Over 1,500 bonfires are set to burn for Queen Elizabeth II this year.
Friday: Thanksgiving service
A thanksgiving service for the Queen’s services will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday. Great Paul, Britain’s largest church bell, will ring during the service. After standing still for decades, it was restored in 2021. It is the first royal occasion for which it is rung.
Saturday: Derby at Epsom Downs and “Platinum Party” at Buckingham Palace
Queen Elizabeth should have attended the derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday. However, as insiders told The Sun, the 96-year-old is unlikely to be present at the horse race this year. Their horses are said not to be taking part in the race either. Will she be celebrating Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor’s birthday instead? The daughter of Prince Harry (37) and Duchess Meghan (40) will be one year old on June 4th.
Also on Saturday is the “Platinum Party” at Buckingham Palace. The BBC is organizing a musical celebration in honor of the Queen and is inviting stars from all over the world. The band Queen and Adam Lambert (40), Diana Ross (78) and Duran Duran are just a few of the prominent names in the line-up. 22,000 spectators are expected to attend the event.
Sunday: Anniversary lunch and pageant
The weekend will be rounded off on Sunday with the big anniversary lunch. Over 60,000 people across the UK are said to have registered to host community meals in their neighborhoods this weekend. The aim is to make new friends and celebrate the Queen together.
Last but not least, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Pageant will take place on Sunday. Over 10,000 people are involved in the move, including the military. The late Prince Philip (1921-2021) will also be honored during the event. Superstar Ed Sheeran (31) is said to be singing his song “Perfect” while photos of the royal couple are shown.
