Finally, it’s time for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It was already announced that the celebration will commence on June 2 and end on June 5. There will be holidays all over the country for these four days. Her Majesty is the country’s only ruler to reach a seven-decade milestone. The Queen first celebrated the 25-year Silver Jubilee in 1977 followed by her 50-year Golden Jubilee in 2002 and then finally, her 60-year Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Now, the whole country is excited for her Platinum Jubilee.
All You Need To Know About Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
2nd June (Thursday)
The event begins with a birthday. It’s not the Queen’s birthday, but that of The Trooping the Colour, which is actually the British Sovereign’s birthday for over two centuries. There’s a parade of almost several thousand of military personnel and several hundred horses making their way to the Buckingham Palace. Finally, the Queen’s family joins her to greet the crowd from her balcony. Even though the balcony greeting was going to be with the whole royal family, some exceptions were made.
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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and her disgraced son, and Prince Andrew were not supposed to be a part of it. The family members include Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra. William and Kate’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis also appeared along with Edward and Sophie’s kids, Lady Louise and James, and Viscount Severn.
On Thursday evening, a special event was planned. Sources said “It is the lighting of the traditional Jubilee beacons, beginning with a principal beacon at Buckingham Palace. More than 3,000 others lit across the U.K. as well. The beacon chains were once used as a tool for communication in the 19th century but have since evolved into a symbol of unity across Great Britain and beyond. They are lit for jubilees, weddings and other royal celebrations.”
3rd June (Friday)
Finally, on Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the festivities. There was a Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Great Paul, the country’s largest church bell, rang in the service, which is the main attraction of the day. However, the Queen didn’t attend the event due to some ‘discomfort’ she experienced the previous day.
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4th June (Saturday)
We all know just how much the Queen is fond of horses. So, she hosted a horse-running Derby Day at Epsom Downs on Saturday. In the evening, a three-stage “Platinum Party at the Palace,” was planned to stream on BBC, taking place at Buckingham Palace. Among the amazing artists scheduled to make their appearances were Diana Ross, Queen, and Adam Lambert. Even Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow, George Ezra, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Sam Ryder, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala, and Diversity were set to make appearances.
That’s not all. Further down the line, Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, and The Royal Ballet were also set to attend the party. Sir Elton John recorded a special performance just for this blissful day. Finally, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin-Manuel Miranda were set to make a joint appearance. Performances featuring guests from ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Hamilton’, ‘Six, The Lion’ and many more were also planned.
5th June (Sunday)
This day will mark the end of the festivities. According to sources, Prince Charles and Camilla will attend a Big Jubilee Lunch at The Oval in London. As per the Royal family, almost 60,000 people have offered to host their very own Big Jubilee lunches all over. “Whether it’s sharing a cuppa with a neighbor on the doorstep or a bigger bash in the street, join millions of people across the UK to share friendship, food, and fun with The Big Jubilee Lunch,” the event’s website reads.
Finally, the four-day-long festivities will come to an end with a Platinum Jubilee Pageant. There is also going to be another “procession with figures from music, film, sports and the arts that will celebrate highlights from the queen’s historic reign”. According to Entertainment Tonight, “The spectacle will be led by the Gold State Carriage and headlined by Ed Sheeran. The day will culminate with a performance of the national anthem and ‘God Save the Queen.’”
