Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II
On 6th February this year, The Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms, and the Commonwealth.
To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives will take place for four days in the UK, for a bank holiday from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. These four days of celebrations include events and community activities to reflect on the Queen’s 70 years of service as below:
In the Roman Catholic Church, jubilees began to be celebrated formally in 1300 AD and were seen as years of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation. Today, they are celebrated every 25 years. The most recent year of jubilee was 2000.
History of Jubilees
Elizabeth Alexander Mary, the future Queen Elizabeth II on 21st April 1926 and married Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1947. Their Marriage would last more than 73 years until his death in 2021. After the death of King George VI in February 1952 from lung cancer, Elizabeth became the sixth woman to sit on the English throne and the coronation took place on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth II is now the longest-reigning British monarch ever. The Queen has four children, eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Thursday 2nd June
The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour): in this, 1400 soldiers parading, 200 horses and 400 musicians will be in the traditional parade to mark Queen’s official birthday usually held on the 2nd Saturday in June. The parade will begin from Buckingham Palace, then move down to The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, Royal Family will join this parade on horseback and in carriages.
Platinum Jubilee Beacons
The United Kingdom’s long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, weddings, and coronations with the lighting of beacons will continue for the Platinum Jubilee. There are three beacon events:
- Community Beacons
- Commonwealth Beacons
- Principle Beacon
Friday 3rd June
Service of Thanksgiving: This will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral for The Queen’s Reign.
Saturday 4th June
The Derby at Epsom Downs: The Queen, accompanied by Royal Family Members, will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs.
Platinum Part at the Palace
The world’s biggest entertainment stars will attend the party at Palace to celebrate the joyous moments of The Queen’s 70 years of service reign. The BBC will stage and broadcast the special live concert from Buckingham.
Sunday 5th June
The Big Jubilee Lunch: Since 2009, the big, encouraged communities to celebrate their connections, to show the spirit of fun and friendship. In June 2022, the big lunch will bring Jubilee celebrations into the heart of every community.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: in The Queen’s 70-year reign as a creative festival will be united by artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers. The London based Pageant will combine pomp and ceremony, street arts, theatre, music, circus, costumes as well as cutting-edge visual technology, drawing on talent from every part of the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. Two hundred silk flags will process down The Mall as the River of Hope, appearing like a moving river. To create hopes and aspirations over the next 70 years, primary and secondary school children are invited. The graphics for the flags will mainly be focused on climate change and integrate the children’s messages for the future. Step by step guides will be provided to teachers to create digital graphics with their students and 200 students will be selected for the flags.