The latest details of celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee have been revealed and they include pomp, ceremony and cakes.
Among the newest initiatives to mark the 70th anniversary of The Queen’s reign is a pudding making competition which promises place in history for the winner. The Platinum Pudding contest invites budding bakers across the UK to submit a recipe for a sweet treat fit for royalty. Star names including Dame Mary Berry and Monica Galetti will judge a competition between five finalists with the winning entry made available to the public. The contest is organised by the Big Lunch and Fortnum and Masons.
It’s also been revealed that celebrations will take place at Balmoral and Sandringham for local residents as well as members of the public. The Queen’s Norfolk estate will host a big screen showing of the ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’, the artistic celebration of Her Majesty’s reign which will be broadcast by the BBC on June 4th 2022.
Sandringham will also be the site of one of the beacons that will be lit across the UK on the night of June 2nd 2022 to mark the Jubilee. Over 1,500 communities have already pledged to take part in the beacon event, following an ancient tradition which has seen celebratory fires lit across Britain to mark major royal events. For the first time, beacons will also be illuminated in the capitals of Commonwealth nations.
The principal beacon will be lit at Buckingham Palace and will come at the end of the first full day of celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee. Earlier in the day, The Queen will take part in Trooping the Colour. The 1st Batallion, Irish Guards will troop their colour this year. Over 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division will take part in the military pageantry at Horse Guards Parade. Applications for tickets open in the middle of January 2022.
The Royal Family will make a balcony appearance at the end of Trooping the Colour and will accompany The Queen to St. Paul’s Cathedral on the following day for a Service of Thanksgiving for her reign. On June 4th, many of the royals are also expected at Epsom for the Derby, a highlight of The Queen’s year and part of her Jubilee celebrations in 2022. On the evening of June 4th 2022, a huge concert will be held at Buckingham Palace, marking many of the major moments of The Queen’s reign. It will be shown by the BBC and a ballot for tickets will open in February 2022.
The final day of the Platinum Jubilee weekend will see the Big Jubilee Lunch take place across the UK. Over 1,400 community groups have already registered for a celebration. Street parties, tea dances and lunches are all being held to mark the 70th anniversary of The Queen’s reign. They’re being organised as part of the Big Lunch, an annual initiative which encourages communities to come together.
The celebrations will end with a ‘River of Hope’ that will wind its way through London as the final day of the Jubilee weekend comes to a close. The river will be made up of 200 silk flags designed by schoolchildren and young people. A contest is now open to find images for the flags with all entries coming via their college or school . The focus is on climate change and hopes for the future. The winning designs will be transferred on to silk flags for the river as well as shown on big screens across the UK. A special website has been set up for applications for the contest from schools.
Meanwhile, special exhibitions are also planned at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse to mark the Jubilee. Ahead of the main celebrations, The Queen is also expected to attend a special Windsor Horse Show which will see 500 horses and 1,000 performers take part in a 90 minute show.
More details of all events will be released in the days and weeks to come. Royal Central will keep you up to date on our main site. We also have a special Jubilee site with all the latest news in one place and a special Twitter account where the very latest news on the celebrations can be found.
