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British Royals

The Jubilee week – your guide to the spectacular events marking The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The Platinum Jubilee weekend is just around the corner. The festivities, which were announced almost a year ago, are centred in London and will see the Royal Family lead celebrations for the 70th anniversary of The Queen’s reign. Royal Central guides you through what to expect at this unique event, the only Platinum Jubilee the world has ever seen.

June 2 2022

Trooping the Colour begins the celebrations for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Sovereign’s Birthday Parade begins at 10am with troops making their way to Horse Guards Parade. The Royal Family will depart Buckingham Palace by carriage at around 11am.

Following the parade, the royals will return to the Palace in another carriage procession and will later step out on to the balcony which will see all working members of the family, as well as the Cambridge and Wessex children, make an appearance.

The lighting of the Jubilee Beacon takes place at 9.45pm on The Mall. The ‘Tree of Trees’ will be illuminated, starting off a chain of beacons and bonfires around the UK and the Commonwealth. Town criers will announce the beacons on the afternoon of June 2 while buglers will herald the lighting just before the illuminations begin.

June 3 2022

The Service of Thanksgiving for the 70 year reign of Elizabeth II takes place at 11.30am at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Ahead of that, the huge bell of Great Paul will ring for a royal event for the very first time. The Royal Family will arrive at the cathedral from around 11am.

Following the service, which is expected to last around 45 minutes, the Royal Family will head to the Guildhall where they will attend a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of London.

June 4 2022

The main event of the day will be the Epsom Derby. The Princess Royal will lead the royal party at the event after The Queen decided not to attend.

In the evening, many members of the Royal Family are expected at the Party at the Palace. The huge concert will take place on a stage at the Victoria Memorial with stars including George Ezra, Queen + Adam Lambert and Sam Ryder leading the celebrations. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge are expected to give speeches celebrating The Queen’s achievements.

June 5 2022

The Big Jubilee Lunch takes place around the UK with communities everywhere coming together to share food and fun to mark The Queen’s 70 year reign.

The Platinum Pageant takes over London in the afternoon with a massive celebration showcasing the new Elizabethan age. Buses for each decade of The Queen’s reign featuring some of the biggest names in British showbusiness will parade through the streets while the whole celebrations begins with a military tribute and the procession of the Gold State Coach which will show images from the Coronation on its windows.

It is reported that the Jubilee will end with a balcony appearance by The Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge.

Royal Central will bring you full coverage of all the events.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.