This week the Queen will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee as the first British monarch to reach 70 years on the throne. The celebrations kick off with the Queen’s Birthday Parade and Trooping the Colour on Thursday (2nd June). Usually this annual event is held on the second Saturday in June. This year the UK is enjoying an extended 4-day long weekend with street parties, concerts and other events.
Trooping the Colour is an event in London that I recommend every member of the British public should attend at least once in a lifetime. As a tourist at this time of year it will be an absolute highlight of your visit. Here’s the key info for this years event and I urge you to check out the flyby if you are in the area, at the very least.
Timetable
Start: 10am on Thursday June 2
Royal family appearance and red arrows fly by: 1pm
The ceremony
Trooping the colour is a well known ceremony, performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. A long standing tradition to mark the British sovereign’s birthday since the 17th century. This year the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards will be trooping. More details can be found here.
The highlight for many of the public who have not been able to obtain tickets through the ballot, will be the chance to see the parade as it travels down The Mall. There is a chance to catch a glimpse of the Queen and other members of the royal family.
Those who arrive in the early hours may be able to grab a spot at the edge of St James’s Park. Although note that this is often some what obscured by troops, particularly those on horse back.
Large screens will be visible in St James’ Park for people to watch the event and BBC 1 will cover the event from 10am.
The Queen’s birthday
Queen Elizabeth’s birthday is actually in April, but the official celebrations take place in June. The reason for having 2 birthday’s dates back to 1748. The decision was that the parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign each year.
The Flyby
Always a highlight, the flyby will take place around 1pm at Buckingham Palace. The royal family will appear the balcony. 70 aircraft will fly over Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to mark the occasion. Those not in London may get a chance to view the trail of modern and historic British planes passing in the skies above them. Check out the approximate route map here.
Other events
Platinum Jubilee Beacons – Thursday 2nd June at around 9.45pm beacons are to be lit up and down the country and in the capital cities of the Commonwealth. More details here.
St Paul’s Service of Thanksgiving – Friday 3rd June. This is a private event with the church bell being rung for the first time following it’s restoration. More details here.
Saturday 4th June:
Derby at Epsom Downs – Attended by the Queen and members of the Royal family. More details here.
Platinum party at the palace – live concert at Buckingham Palace with musical tributes to celebrate the Jubilee. More details here.
Sunday 5th June
The Big Jubilee Lunch
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Pin for later:
