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UK to get four day holiday for Queen’s Jubilee as Buckingham Palace unveils huge programme of events
From a national baking contest to a four-day bank holiday, there’s a lot planned for the celebrations…
The programme of events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations have officially been released by Buckingham Palace.
In June last year, the Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II, ninety-five, will be hosting four-days worth of celebrations to mark her seventieth year on the throne in June 2022.
Details surrounding the celebrations were initially kept under wraps, though the Palace did confirm that Brits will be treated to a four-day bank holiday across the usual May Bank Holiday, saying the extra days off will ‘provide an opportunity for communities and people to come together and celebrate the historic milestone’.
But now, nearly half a year on from the initial announcement, the finer details surrounding the historic occasion have been unveiled.
Celebrations actually began this week, with Fortnum and Mason launching its Platinum Pudding Competition – a contest to find a dish worthy of the Queen’s 70th year on the throne, with the likes of baking royalty Dame Mary Berry on the judging panel.
And then, between May 12th-15th, the ‘spectacular’ equestrian display A Gallop Through History will showcase horses from across the globe in a ‘personal tribute to our monarchy’.
The show is said to feature more than 500 horses and over a thousand dancers and musicians taking the audience on a journey from Elizabeth I to the Queen.
And on the same day, the UK – along with the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and its Overseas Territories – will all light a beacon at the same time as one at Buckingham Palace, while a service of Thanksgiving will be held in the grand surrounds of St Paul’s Cathedral the following day.
On June 4th, there will be a celebrity-packed Party At The Palace – those lined up to perform at the show have not yet been named, but it has been hinted that some of the biggest stars in the world will be in attendance.
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Nations from across the Commonwealth and other parts of the globe are also expected to be involved in the show, such as Oman, India, the Caribbean, Canada, France and Norway.
On Sunday June 5th, the British public will be able to come together for the Big Jubilee Lunch, marking the final day of the bank holiday period (it starts on Thursday June 2nd). Balmoral and Sandringham – which are usually closed off to the public – will also be opened to local residents for the long weekend.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will then see volunteers, dancers, musicians, military personnel and key workers tell the story of the Queen’s seventy years on the throne with a parade made up of 200 silk flags.
School children will also be getting involved with the festivities with a nationwide drawing competition; kids across the country have been asked to create a picture for how they would like the planet to look over the next seventy years, with the best ones being put on to the flags.
Sir Mike Rake, chairman of the Platinum Jubilee’s advisory board, said: “After seventy years on the throne and particularly poignantly after the dark and troubling times in the last eighteen months, Her Majesty’s leadership, steadiness and unwavering devotion during her reign deserve recognition and celebration.
“In 2022 Her Majesty the Queen will have guided the nation through several decades of change, growth and advancement, like none before them – in times of triumph and also in times of trouble.
“In an age of advancement and adversary, the Queen has remained a constant, committed and courageous presence, therefore we have worthwhile and timely celebration.”
The Platinum Jubilee Line Up in Full
May 12th-15th: Performances in Windsor Castle
June 2nd: Bank holiday begins with a Trooping The Colour and lighting of beacons
June 3rd: Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral
June 4th: Celebrity Party At The Palace outside Buckingham Palace
June 5th: Big Jubilee Lunch and Jubilee Pageant
July: Performances charting the stories of the Queen’s coronation and jubilees
The May Bank Holiday – which usually falls at the end of the month – will be moved to Thursday June 2nd, while an extra Bank Holiday will be added on Friday June 3rd, making it a four-day weekend.