The Queen is set to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee this summer in London. We have all the details on the events happening in London for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 so you can choose the best way to celebrate this summer!
What is a Platinum Jubilee?
The Platinum Jubilee is a celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne since 1952. Just like past Jubilees the whole of the UK will have events of different kinds to commemorate the occasion. London is set to become a bustling host for many of the celebratory events!
Has There Been a Platinum Jubilee Before?
Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee will be the first the UK has ever celebrated, although for the world it is the 16th. With the last Platinum Jubilee being that of King Bhumibol of Thailand in 2016.
Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Dates
One of the most exciting parts of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee for the UK and London population is the extra bank holiday. The usual late May bank holiday is being moved to the first Friday in June, alon with a new bank holiday specially for the Jubilee on the Thursday. This will leave us with a four day long weekend, perfect for engaging in the festivities, or simply relaxing. There have even been moves made by business leaders to make this new bank holiday permanent.
Jubilee Bank Holiday Dates: 2nd & 3rd June 2022
How to Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in London
There are so many events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in London, and we’ve got the low-down on the best royal activities you need to know about!
Table of Contents:
- The Queen’s Birthday Parade
- Platinum Jubilee Pageant
- Platinum Party at the Palace
- Tree of Trees
- Emblem Shortlist Exhibition
- St Paul’s Cathedral Thanksgiving
- Beacon Lighting
- Superbloom
- The Queen’s Accession Gallery
- Jubilee Joust
- Mayfair Street Party
- Visit a Royal Park
The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)
One of the primary London events for the Platinum Jubilee is The Queen’s Birthday Parade. The Queen has two birthdays, her real one and her official one. Her official birthday usually takes place on the second weekend in June, and so has been moved a week earlier to tie in with the Jubilee.
The Parade will be a Trooping the Colour boasting 1,400 parading soldiers, 400 musicians, and 200 horses. The event is free and open to the public on the 2nd June. It begins at Buckingham Palace and will make its way down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade. We can expect Royal Family members to take part on horseback and in carriages, and that traditional RAF fly-past which the Queen and her family will watch from the famous palace balcony.
Platinum Jubilee Pageant
The Jubilee pageant will be taking place on Sunday 5th June and tells the story of Her Majesty’s 70 year reign. The pageant will involve the military, key workers, and volunteers to tell the story of the Queen and the people of the commonwealth. The event will combine ceremony with street art, music, circus, and costumes. If you can’t make it to the streets of central London in person the event will be broadcast on BBC.
Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace
The Platinum Party at the Palace is a concert featuring some of the world’s biggest entertainers on the 4th June. From global music icons to an orchestra, to TV and film actors, this is an event to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in the city.
Visit the Tree of Trees
Over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend there will be a 70ft tree of trees outside Buckingham Palace. The enormous sculpture will be built from 350 sapling trees that are native to Britain to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. The tree has been designed by Thomas Heatherwick, a British architect. The tree is intended to inspire the next generation of tree planters, as well as to raise awareness of the need for more trees in the UK.
V&A Emblem Shortlist Exhibition
The V&A held a competition to design the emblem for the Platinum Jubilee for people aged between 13 and 25. The winner was 19 year old Edward Roberts, whose design features a singular line drawing of St Edward’s crown on a background of royal purple. The V&A will be holding an exhibition of the winning emblem and the runners up for the public to view.
St Paul’s Cathedral Thanksgiving
On the 3rd June St Paul’s Cathedral will be holding a Thanksgiving service for the Queen to thank her for her 70 year reign. The service will include Bible readings, hymns, and prayers.
Lighting of Beacons
Across the UK and commonwealth, beacons will be lit to mark the beginning of celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee. Here in London the principle beacon will be lit on The Mall on the 2nd June.
Superbloom at The Tower of London
Superbloom is a fun, floral event taking place at the Tower of London in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The moat at the iconic London landmark will be flooded with flowers, with over 20 million seeds having been sown across the moat. Running from June to September there’s lots of time to catch Superbloom in person for yourself.
The Queen’s Accession Gallery
Celebrating the Queen’s time on the throne, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace will have a display exploring the Queen’s accession. These include the portraits taken by Dorothy Wilding, that formed the basis of the image used on stamps across the world until 1971. You’ll also see The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara that was given to the Queen as a wedding present on the 20th November 1947.
Jubilee Joust at Hampton Court Palace
For a bit of Jubilee fun with the kids, why not attend the Jubilee Joust at Hampton Court Palace. The palace is playing host to a joust to find the best knight in the country!
Mayfair Street Party
The upper-class area of Mayfair is hosting a street party from the 2nd – 3rd June. The party will feature a 200ft long table on North Audley Street. The event is free to attend and you’ll find delicious foods available to purchase from the local restaurants and bars.
Take a Stroll Around a Royal Park
If you’re looking for a low-key way to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in London, take a stroll around one of the city’s Royal Parks. From the beautiful St James’s Park and Green Park which both border Buckingham Palace, to the large spaces of Hyde Park – you’ll enjoy a weekend spent in the sun.
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