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The Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee
On February 6, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee Year, marking 70 years of service. The Platinum Jubilee will see celebrations across Great Britain, the Commonwealth, and beyond in the months leading up to the special extended bank holiday. The Platinum Jubilee's Central Weekend will run from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5. With the Platinum Jubilee year well underway, here are some of the many ways you can get involved in celebrating The Queen’s milestone year.
What is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year is celebrated every 25 years in the United Kingdom to honor significant periods of a monarch's reign. The most recent year of jubilee was 2000. Few British monarchs have achieved reigns of 50 years to celebrate their Golden Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth II is the very first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee Year, in honor of her 70th anniversary. Until 2015, Queen Victoria had been the longest-ruling monarch in the history of Britain with a reign of 64 years.
The Best Things to Do in London to Celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Year in 2022
Explore London's Iconic Sites
Spend a day exploring all things London! See Big Ben, the imposing Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, and Westminster Abbey. Walk through the oldest part of London – the imposing dome of Christopher Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral, Leadenhall Market's ornate façades, and visit the buzzing stalls of Borough Market, London's most renowned food market which has been feeding locals for centuries.
Of course, a top London must, catch the stately Changing of the Guard in central London. Perhaps take a leisurely cruise along the Thames River, delve into centuries of history and admire the exquisite crown jewels at the Tower of London, meet the Yeoman Wardens of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, catch a flight on the London Eye, or meander through the stalls of Covent Garden.
London Explorer
Indulge in a Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea Overlooking Buckingham Palace
Platinum Jubilee-themed Royal Afternoon Teas are popping up all over London. There's absolutely no better place to indulge than at The Rubens at the Palace, an exceptional hotel overlooking Buckingham Palace. With a reputation as one of the best in London and a menu based on Her Majesty's favorite food, this Afternoon Tea will be second to none. If you're interested, book ahead!
The Rubens at the Palace
Take a Day Trip to Windsor
Travel to the town of Windsor with its vast royal castle, the oldest and largest continuously occupied castle in the world. See the chapel where Prince Harry and Meghan were married. Spend the afternoon following in the footsteps of royalty. Explore over 900 years of royal history, ambling through this historic market town.
2022 Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend Celebrations
Platinum Jubilee Beacons
The lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacons is the first community event of the four-day Jubilee Central Weekend, June 2-5, 2022. The Jubilee Beacons will provide an opportunity for UK and Commonwealth communities to come together to celebrate this historic milestone. A beacon chain, once used as a tool for communication, is now often the central point of focus to mark the start or end of a celebration in the UK.
For the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, over 1,500 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom's territories. Thousands of beacons will be lit by communities and groups throughout regions of Great Britain, 54 beacons will be lit in the capital cities of the Commonwealth, and one single (Principal) beacon will be lit on June 2 in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
When: Thursday, June 2, 2022
The Queen's Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour
Over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians will parade together in the traditional march to mark The Queen’s official birthday, joined by members of the Royal family on horseback and in carriages. Beginning at Buckingham Palace, the Queen's Birthday Parade will move down The Mall and end with the Queen and family's traditional birthday balcony appearance, and an RAF fly-past.
When: Thursday, June 2, 2022
Platinum Party at the Palace
A party to remember, artists and entertainers from around the world will be at the Palace to perform live musical tributes in celebration of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Coverage of the Platinum Party at the Palace and air live on BBC One.
When: Saturday, June 4, 2022
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant will be a sensation akin to a carnival festival. 10,000 people are involved, including the military, with over 6,000 volunteers, and countless performers. The pageant will proceed in four acts, telling the story of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. It will feature a military spectacle, displays bringing to life British culture over the past 70 years, street theatre, elaborate costumes, live music, and even a nod to The Queen's love of horses and corgis.
The pageant will also feature a "River of Hope" procession of 200 children carrying silk flags with depictions of children's hopes and aspirations for the planet over the next 70 years. There will also be music performed by over 100 young people from London and Edinburgh.
When: Sunday, June 5, 2022
The Big Jubilee Lunch
Over 60,000 are planning to host Big Jubilee Lunches on the Sunday of the Platinum celebration weekend. With street parties, backyard barbecues, picnics, and more, over ten million people across the UK are expected to join in celebrating friendship, food, fun, and of course, The Queen at Big Jubilee Lunches. People across the world are also joining in with over 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches being planned. You can even host one of your own at home!
When: Sunday, June 5, 2022
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