After two very long pandemic years, a national party could not have been better timed. Our thanks, then, to HM The Queen – not only for her extraordinary 70 years of impeccable service, but for kindly prompting a nationwide shindig to blow the Covid blues away – for good, with any luck.

The four-day weekend alone will be enough to induce collective merriment for some. For others, the pomp and pageantry are what it’s all about. If you fall into the latter camp, do check out our guide to the Platinum Jubilee to ensure you don’t miss a moment of merrymaking in the name of the longest serving British monarch. Still stuck for ideas? Check out the Platinum Jubilee’s toolkit, which is packed with activities, from recipes to corgis to colour in to bunting kits.

Trooping The Colour


2 June
TROOPING OF THE COLOUR

Trooping The Colour always takes place in early June to mark the Queen’s birthday – and this year will be extra special for marking the Platinum Jubilee as well. Open to the public with no booking required, join the 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, as well as various members of the Royal Family on horseback, as they parade from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade. It kicks off at 11am and finishes up with the traditional RAF fly-past, which the Queen will watch from Buckingham Palace balcony alongside members of her family. Can’t be there in person? It will also be televised live, so you can join in wherever you are.


Jubilee Beacons


2 June
Jubilee Events Beacon Lighting

Do you want to be part of an historic lighting up a continuous chain of beacons, stretching throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth? As the organisers tell us, ‘There is a long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations with the lighting of beacons. A beacon chain, once used as a tool for communication, has now become a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries and continents and is often the central point of focus for any outdoor gathering or celebration. In 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1977, 2002 and 2012, beacons commemorated the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of The Queen, and in 2016 Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.’ Find out how you can get involved here.


St Paul’s Service of Thanksgiving


3 June
St Pauls

On Friday 3 June, St Paul’s will hold a Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign. While this will be closed to the public, do listen out for the sound of Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, which will be rung for its first-ever royal occasion, swiftly followed by a joyously celebratory peal of bells.

The cathedral is also currently hosting an exhibition which looks at the Jubilee celebrations for King George III in 1809 right up to the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of HM Queen Elizabeth II. It will feature memorabilia from St Paul’s archival collection, including the Jubilee Cope – an embroidered cloak by Beryl Dean depicting the spires of 73 churches in London.

The Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison says ‘It is a great honour to hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the Reign of Her Majesty The Queen and to celebrate her 70 years of service to the UK and the Commonwealth.

‘We are also delighted to open a brand new exhibition documenting previous Jubilee celebrations across three centuries. From rich and beautiful textiles to treasured photographs and scrapbooks, the story emerges of the excitement and anticipation of each Jubilee celebration, and the unique role that St Paul’s holds in ceremonial occasions. Along with our community outreach programmes and late opening events, our Jubilee exhibition is a fitting way to mark this special occasion.’ Find more info here.


Platinum Party At The Palace


4 June
PARTY AT THE PALACE Hailey-wagner-u7BZ8dRfHlM-unsplash

Some of the world’s biggest entertainers (only George Ezra had been revealed at the time of writing) will come together at The Palace to perform for The Queen – and, happily, the rest of us, since it is being broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and supported across the entire BBC network. Those who miss Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs will be glad to know that she is set to anchor the whole affair in her first appearance on the BBC since 2018. She says, ‘I’m delighted to be back on the BBC for such an historic, unique, and happy event. It’s going to be quite a weekend and our coverage will bring viewers everywhere a front row seat at the celebrations. I can’t wait!’ Find more info here.


Platinum Jubilee Pageant


5 June
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant will tell the story of the 70 years of the Queen’s reign, played out in four parts. Queen and Country, its opening act, will celebrate the military armed forces, along with military personnel from across the Commonwealth including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Ghana, Belize, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, and beyond. Act two, The Time of Our Lives, will look at British life since 1952, while act three, Let’s Celebrate, is all about fun, humour and community spirit. Finally, for act four, Happy and Glorious, all the other strands will converge at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.

Expect street arts, theatre, music, circus and carnival open to all – all you need do is turn up at Buckingham Palace at the appointed hour. Children especially are encouraged to get involved by joining the ‘River of Hope’ procession. They say, ‘Forming an important part of the Pageant, the procession will comprise of two hundred silk flags which will process down The Mall, emulating a moving river. Primary and secondary school children are invited to create a picture of their hopes and aspirations for the planet over the next 70 years. A selection of these creations will be transferred on to silk flags, which will carried by secondary school pupils. The ‘River of Hope’ section is being choreographed by Kinetika Bloco with music by one hundred young players from London and Edinburgh.’ Find more info here.


See The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Emblem At The V&A


From 1 June
Jubilee Emblem At The V&A

The V&A and The Royal Household threw out a challenge to budding graphic designers aged between 13 and 25: to design an emblem for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The winner was nineteen-year-old Edward Roberts, whose emblem will by now, already be familiar. He said, ‘For my design, I wanted to give a modern twist to the iconic elements of St Edward's Crown, and so I created a continuous line, which I felt was a fitting representation of The Queen's reign.’ His winning design, along with the nine others shortlisted by experts from the V&A, the Royal College of Art, the Design Museum, and a representative from the Royal Household, will be on display at the V&A from 1 June. Find more info here.


The Big Jubilee Lunch


2 – 5 June
BIG JUBILEE LUNCH

One of the most joyful aspects of the Platinum Jubilee is how it is actively encouraging communities to come together and celebrate – whether they are already close-knit or they’re getting to know one another for the first time. Should you share a cup of tea with a neighbour or your street organises a larger hurrah, the spirit of coming together is the thing that counts. In association with Eden Project Communities, you can sign up for a Big Lunch Pack here, and get more info here. Long live the community spirit!


By Nancy Alsop
May 2022