From Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June the exterior facade of the Library of Birmingham will be lit up purple to honour HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

On 6 February this year Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

The four-day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June marks the culmination of events to mark this unprecedented anniversary, with a series of spectacular events taking place in central London.

As well as national events in London, community activities will be taking place across the UK.

Thursday 2 June

Trooping the Colour

The 'colour' or regimental flag will be trooped by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and more than 1200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division will put on a display of military pageantry on Horse Guards Parade, together with hundreds of Army musicians and around 240 horses. This annual event has now marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. During the parade a Royal Gun Salute will be fired.

Once the parade has ended and the Royal Procession has returned to Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family’s balcony appearance will happen as in previous years. There will be an impressive Flypast to coincide with the Royal Family’s balcony appearance.

Friday 3 June

Service of Thanksgiving

A Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, will be rung for the Service. It was made in 1882, but fell silent in the 1970s due to a broken mechanism. It was restored in 2021 and has been rung on 8 occasions since, but this is the 1st royal occasion it will be rung.

Saturday 4 June

The Derby at Epsom Downs

Members of the Royal Family will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs. One the highlights of the flat season, the Derby is one of English racing's five Classics in addition to the Oaks, the 1,000 Guineas, the St Leger, and the 2,000 Guineas. The Derby is run over one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards on Epsom Downs.

Platinum Party at the Palace

Hosts Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp will lead live coverage of the Platinum Party at the Palace and air live on BBC One. The celebration will see famous faces from the world of entertainment brought together to perform for a night of musical tributes to celebrate The Queen's 70-year reign. 22,000 people will attend the event including 10,000 allocated in a public ballot and 5,000 tickets for key workers.

Sunday 5 June

The Big Jubilee Lunch

Over 60k people have registered to host Big Jubilee Lunches on the Platinum celebration weekend, with events ranging from world record attempts for the longest street party to back garden BBQ’s and everything in between. Over ten million people across the UK are expected to be joining the celebrations to share friendship, food and fun at Big Jubilee Lunches as part of this nationwide act of community friendship. People across the world are also joining in with over 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches being planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond - from Canada to Brazil, New Zealand to Japan and South Africa to Switzerland.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant

The Pageant will serve as an opportunity to gather and pay tribute to The Queen It will culminate with the singing of the National Anthem, ‘God Save the Queen’ and a gospel choir to the sounds of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines. The Pageant will bring to life iconic moments from The Queen’s reign as well as showcasing our changing society over the past 70 years. 10,000 people are involved, including the military, over 6,000 volunteers, performers, key workers and 2,500 members of the general public.

People from all over the UK and across the Commonwealth are giving their time and creativity to build this event and celebrate this momentous occasion. Communities across the UK will find a connection to the ‘People’s Pageant’.

National treasures and iconic figures from music, film, sport and the arts will take part in the Pageant including much-loved celebrity names, alongside military personnel, key workers and volunteers.

The Gold State Carriage, led by The Sovereign’s Escort, will lead the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, embracing the latest in digital technology to evoke the excitement and majesty of her journey to be crowned 70 years ago.

Whilst The Queen won’t personally travel in the regal Gold State Carriage, there will be a fabulous surprise. Original film footage recorded on Coronation Day will be used to recreate the magic of that extraordinary occasion.

For full details please visit the official website

Article posted 1 June 2022