Looking ahead to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Friday 08 April 2022
Tower of London. Yeoman Warder with Superbloom in the Moat of the Tower. The Tower is part of Historic Royal Palaces.

Britain is preparing to celebrate a moment 70 years in the making – Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. To mark the momentous occasion, events and celebrations are taking place across the nations, and the following is just some of what visitors can expect.

Efforts are already underway to plant a great floral river that will lap around the moat of the Tower of London. But it’s the Platinum Jubilee Weekend that has got people talking. The Trooping the Colour ceremony returns to officially mark the monarch’s birthday, accompanied by a flypast by the Royal Air Force. There’s also a huge party at the Queen’s official London residence and everyone is invited – a massive concert featuring international performers will rock Buckingham Palace and will be beamed to big screens across the nations. There’s a special Platinum Jubilee Pageant and clusters of events around Britain for visitors to enjoy, including giant picnics, parades, exhibitions and more.

 

The run-up

The run-up to the big celebration in early June has already begun. Visitors can see the Queen in all her glory from her coronation in 1952 to now, thanks to special displays on the billboards at London Piccadilly. The Tower of London moat is also being sewn with 20 million seeds, which are set to bloom just in time for the start of June. Smaller plantings are also taking place at sites all over Britain.

To find out what’s happening across Britain, visitors can look at this ever-evolving interactive map of events.

 

12-15 May

A Gallop Through History will marks a series of moments in the Queen’s life. Visitors can see 500 horses and 1,000 performers create a 90-minute piece of theatre in the grounds of Windsor Castle that will include actors and artists, musicians, international military and equestrian displays.

 

1 June

Visitors can see the Platinum Jubilee award winning emblem design revealed at London’s Victorian and Albert Museum.

 

2 June

Trooping the Colour will return to mark the monarch’s birthday, with plenty of pomp and pageantry. It features some 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, as well as a big RAF fly-over. The day will also see 1,500 beacons lit throughout Britain, overseas territories and Commonwealth nations.

 

3 June

A private Thanksgiving service will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, paying tribute to the Queen’s reign.

 

4 June

The Platinum Party at the Palace will see more than 5,000 street artists, theatre, music and circus performers celebrate 70 years of the Queen’s reign. A live concert at Buckingham Palace will feature some of the world’s top musicians and artists, including George Ezra, with the concert shown on big screens across Britain.

 

5 June

Visitors will be welcomed to join the Big Jubilee Lunch, with events taking place across Britain, at locations from village greens to specially organised festivals. Windsor is planning the world’s longest picnic table (the minimum would be 500m-long table to seat some 1,600 people). The very long table will run from Cambridge Gate, down the Long Walk towards the Copper Horse, a monumental statue of King George III.

Sequins and pom-poms at the ready. The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will feature some 5000 people from the UK and Commonwealth, bringing a big burst of colour and sound to the streets of London.

Visitor can also rub shoulders with local punters as pub opening will be extended until 1am.

Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle will also be open for visitors to have a look around.

 

Other events

There’s a host of other events taking place across Britain in 2022 too. The Palace of Holyroodhouse will display a look back at Her Majesty's previous Jubilees, including the outfits, the gems and the jewels worn on each of the Silver, Golden and Diamond celebrations.

Windsor Castle is hosting its own display, including the original Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate worn by The Queen on her accession. It took 12 embroideresses, using 18 different types of gold thread, more than 3,500 hours to complete just the needlework alone.  

And in July visitors will be able to explore the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace to see portraits, and diamond tiaras, among other royal items. For something very regal, visitors can enjoy a privately guided tour around the private gardens of the palace, or take a horse drawn carriage around Windsor Great Park under the gaze of the castle, with Windsor Carriages. And if it’s a quick toast to the queen, then visitors could raise a specially created Jubilee golf-leaf-topped champagne cocktail at The Goring, just minutes from Buckingham Palace.

For more information contact:

VisitBritain Media Team

pressandpr@visitbritain.org

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