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What we know so far about celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee


By PA News



The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations may be more than 18 months away, but plans are being set out to mark the monarch’s historic milestone.

Here is what we know so far:

– Extra bank holiday

The public will get an extra day off as part of a “blockbuster” four-day weekend of celebrations from June 2-5 2022.

Fireworks above Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee Concert in 2012 (Ian West/PA)
Fireworks above Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee Concert in 2012 (Ian West/PA)

The May spring bank holiday will be moved to Thursday June 2 and an additional Bank Holiday added on Friday 3 June.

– Traditional pageantry and state of the art displays

The celebrations will feature a busy programme of events – yet to be announced.

The Queen rides in the Gold State coach to St Paul’s Cathedral for a service of Thanksgiving during the Golden Jubilee in 2002 (John Giles/PA)
The Queen rides in the Gold State coach to St Paul’s Cathedral for a service of Thanksgiving during the Golden Jubilee in 2002 (John Giles/PA)

They will mix British ceremonial splendour and pageantry with cutting edge artistic and technological displays.

– But not on the River Thames

For the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the rest of the royal family endured an extremely wet and windy trip down the Thames as part of a river pageant.

Members of the Royal family onboard the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant (John Stillwell/PA)
Members of the Royal family onboard the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant (John Stillwell/PA)

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden appeared to rule out any further river-related activities for the monarch after the previous experience.

“The one thing I might resist committing to given our experience of 2012 and the Diamond Jubilee is doing anything on the River Thames again,” he told MPs.

Well wishers watch the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in the rain (Dan Kitwood/PA)
Well wishers watch the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in the rain (Dan Kitwood/PA)

Philip was admitted to hospital with a bladder infection the day after the pageant and missed the majority of the Jubilee festivities.

– Street parties

Street parties are synonymous with royal jubilees.

Residents of Woodford Bridge, Essex, celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee with a street party for local children in 1977 (PA)
Residents of Woodford Bridge, Essex, celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee with a street party for local children in 1977 (PA)

The nation will be encouraged to gather – coronavirus permitting – with their neighbours for street gatherings across the UK.

– Trees

Trees will be planted up and down the country to mark the Jubilee.

The Queen planting a tree in Edinburgh in 2015 (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The Queen planting a tree in Edinburgh in 2015 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Mr Dowden said proposals for a Queen’s green canopy were being examined with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

– Funding

How the celebrations will be paid for and how much they cost will be a key issue amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Crowds at the Golden Jubilee pop concert (John Giles/PA)
Crowds at the Golden Jubilee pop concert (John Giles/PA)

SNP MP Steven Bonnar warned against “spending excessively on ceremonies, pageantry and celebrations” to mark the occasion.

Mr Dowden said both he and the Royal Household will ensure that money is spent “very wisely”.

– Security

The Treasury will also have to decide on how to foot the security bill for the mass-scale events.

A police officer enjoys the atmosphere on the Mall in London during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations (John Cantlie/PA)
A police officer enjoys the atmosphere on the Mall in London during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations (John Cantlie/PA)

– Jubilee visits

Members of the royal family are expected to take part in the celebrations over the extended weekend and in the run-up to the four-day extravaganza.

Senior royals are likely to be carrying out country-wide visits, just as they have done ahead of previous jubilees.

The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, the Queen, the Cambridges and Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee (David Jones/PA)
The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, the Queen, the Cambridges and Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee (David Jones/PA)

– A present for the Queen

Politicians will have a whip-round to pay for a gift for the Queen.

A cross-party board with members from both Houses of Parliament will be set up to decide on the chosen present, with the money coming from personal donations, rather than public funds.

Solicitor General Michael Ellis who organised the Diamond Jubilee gift, of a stained glass window in Westminster Hall, will lead the project.

Guests look at the Diamond Jubilee stained glass window (Dan Kitwood/PA)
Guests look at the Diamond Jubilee stained glass window (Dan Kitwood/PA)

Other past presents have included a fountain in the Palace of Westminster’s New Palace Yard for the Silver Jubilee, and a sundial in Old Palace Yard for the Golden Jubilee.

– Jubilee Medal

In keeping with tradition, a Platinum Jubilee medal will be awarded to people who work in public service including representatives of the Armed Forces, the emergency services and the prison services.

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