From Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June 2022, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated in style with a multitude of events throughout the United Kingdom.
The Platinum Jubilee celebrates 70 years of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II. On February 6th 2022 the Queen became the first British monarch to be on the throne for 70 years. To commemorate this special event, parades, fireworks and numerous events have been organized in different tourist attractions. Also, every town and city in Great Britain are planning their own celebrations.
Neighbourhood communities are organising street parties, churches have organised traditional afternoon teas, and schools celebrate this event with plays, costume days, songs…
How to celebrate the Queen´s Platinum Jubilee in London
London is already prepared for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with millions of flags decorating the main streets and squares in central London.
The Mall, which runs from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, is decorated with huge flags, ready for the famous Trooping the color, which takes place on June 2nd. The square locates just in front of Buckingham Palace, is also prepared for the Platinum Party that will take place there.
Covent Garden has also been decorated with thousands of flags, and it should definitely be on your list of places to visit if you are visiting London during the Jubilee.
Many shops have decorated their windows with a Platinum Jubilee theme, and I have to highlight the shops on Carnaby Street and Regent Street, where images of the Crown and corgis are the main protagonists.
In less central areas of London, councils are also decorating the streets and organizing different events for the different neighbourhood communities. Many neighbours will take part in the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday 5th June.
Events to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in London
Trooping the Colour
Date: 2nd June
The Queen’s birthday is celebrated each year with the Trooping The Colour parade, and this year it will take place on Thursday 2nd June 2022 from 11am. The 1st Battalion Irish Guards will carry the colour, and over 1,200 officers and men from the Home Division will put on a display of military pageantry at Horse Guards Parade, along with hundreds of Army musicians and around 240 horses. During the Queen’s birthday parade, there will also be a gun salute.
During the ceremony, giant screens will be installed in St James’ Park. It will also be broadcast live on television through the BBC and Sky Television. Once the parade is over and the Royal Procession has returned to Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. There will also be an air parade to coincide with the appearance of the Royal Family on the balcony.
Find out more: Trooping the colour.
Beacons to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee
Date: 2nd June
In the UK there is a long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations by lighting beacons across the country, and this tradition will be continued to celebrate this year’s Platinum Jubilee.
Beacon chains were once used as a communication tool, but today they have become a symbol of unity between people, borders, countries and continents and are often the central point of focus for any gathering or celebration around the world. In 1897, lighthouses were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1977, 2002 and 2012, the beacons commemorated the Queen’s Silver, Gold and Diamond Jubilees, and in 2016 the Queen’s 90th birthday. In 2022, more than 1,500 beacons will be lit across the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the British Overseas Territories.
The main beacon will be the Tree of Trees located right in front of Buckingham Palace. This Tree of Trees is a 21m tall tree sculpture built from 350 smaller trees and will be lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace at 9pm. Thousands of beacons will then be lit by different communities, charities and groups in different regions of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK Overseas Territories.
Beacons will also be lit across the Commonwealth’s 54 capital cities.
Find out more: Jubilee Beacons
Epsom Downs Derby
Date: 4th June
Queen Elizabeth II will attend the Epsom Downs Derby alongside other members of the Royal Family.
Find out more: Platinum Jubilee Derby
Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace
Date: 4th June
The Platinum Party will be held at Buckingham Palace which will be broadcast live on British television channel BBC One, in addition to BBC iPlayer and supported by the entire BBC network. This event will bring together the most important artists in the world to perform in front of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
This event has the latest state-of-the-art technology and an impressive stage. There will be an incredible range of highlights, from world music stars with a full live orchestra, to film, television and stage actors telling the story and celebrating some of the most significant cultural moments of the Queen’s seven-decade reign. .
Find out more: Platinum Jubilee Party
Big Jubilee Lunch
Date: 5th June
The UK will celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with thousands of street parties where neighbors get together and have lunch outside together. Neighbours who are organizing this lunch are able to register the event on the official website. There are currently more than 60,000 people registered.
Over ten million people across the UK, and beyond, are expected to join the celebrations to share friendship, food and fun at these Big Jubilee Lunches as part of this national act of community.
Find out more: The Big Jubilee Lunch
Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Date: 5th June
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will be spectacular and will have the excitement of a carnival parade. The parade will combine street arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival and fancy dress to celebrate 70 years of the Queen’s Reign, taking into account her love of the natural world and dedication to the Commonwealth.
The parade will represent iconic moments from the Queen’s reign and show how our society has changed in the last 70 years. 10,000 people will participate in the parade, including more than 6,000 volunteers, artists, key workers and 2,500 members of the general public.
National treasures and iconic figures from music, film, sports and the arts will also take part in the pageant, including much-loved celebrity names, along with military personnel, key workers and volunteers.
The Platinum Jubilee parade has also invited children from across the UK to take part in the ‘River of Hope’ procession. Forming an important part of the parade, the procession will be made up of two hundred silk flags that will descend down The Mall, emulating a moving river. Primary and secondary school children have drawn pictures of their hopes and aspirations for the planet. A selection of these creations will be transferred to silk flags, which will be carried by secondary school students.
The parade will be led by The Gold State Carriage. The parade will culminate with the singing of the National Anthem, ‘God Save the Queen’ and a gospel choir to the tune of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band.
Find out more: Platinum Pageant
Seven dials
Date: 2nd – 5th June
To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the streets of Seven Dials area in central London will be full of events, activities, master classes and personalized menus that celebrate everything related to the 50’s, the decade of the Queen’s coronation.
During these days Seven Dials will offer, among other things, workshops set in the 50’s, classic 50’s haircuts, afternoon teas and nail art pop-ups.
You will also be able to take part in flower crown making workshops, cocktail parties, an English sparkling wine tasting session and even a burlesque masterclass. There will also be live music acts celebrating the sounds of the ’50s throughout the weekend.
Find out more: Platinum Jubilee Seven Dials
Superbloom at Tower of London
When: June to August
To mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, more than 20 million seeds have been sown in the moat around the Tower of London, which will grow and transform throughout the summer to create a beautiful natural landscape. This garden has been designed to attract pollinating insects. It will bring natural beauty to this urban space and introduce a new biodiverse habitat for wildlife.
This garden will be open from June to September, and will be an evolving exhibit, transitioning from soft shades of green in June to delicate whites, blues, pinks, and oranges throughout the summer. It will be possible to access the garden through a fully accessible visitor entrance, or arrive in royal style on the Superbloom Slide!
The walk around the garden should take approximately 30 minutes.
Inside you will find a section called the Queen’s Garden, a special tribute to Her Majesty the Queen this year of the Platinum Jubilee. Designed to be viewed from above, this image garden is inspired by her 1953 coronation gown. At its centre is a glass crown, a reminder of the Tower of London as home to the Crown Jewels.
Throughout July and August on Thursdays and Saturdays it will open until 10:30 p.m.
Find out more: Superbloom Tower of London
Fortnum and Mason
Date: March to June
The fabulous Fortnum and Mason celebrates The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with four exhibitions called ‘The Art of the Exceptional, A Jubilee Celebration of Creators’. The event will take place on the third floor of the shop located in Piccadilly.
Taking place during the months of March, April, May and June, the four exhibits are a celebration of all things craft, from typography and illustration to creators working in wicker, clay, wood, glass, leather, metal and more.
The highlight of the exhibition will be the creation of the ‘Jubilee Basket’, a one-of-a-kind handmade wicker basket filled with artisan products created during the exhibition.
Launched in parallel with the ‘Scent of Summer’ exhibit, an exuberant celebration of all things floral, to coincide with June bank holiday jubilee weekend, all proceeds from the basket will be donated to a new crafts grant, fostering the creators of the future.
Exhibition dates:
- WICKER – CLAY – THREAD: 14 March – 10 April
- WOOD – GLASS – PAPER:11 Aoril – 8 May
- LEATHER – METAL – FABRIC: 9 – 29 May
- THE JUBILEE HAMPER & SCENT OF SUMMER: 29 May – 19 June
- TYPOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION: 14th March – 19th June
Find out More: Fortnum and Mason Platinum Jubilee
Hampton Court Palace
Dates: 1 – 5 June
Hampton Court Palace will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a joust. Choose your favourite knight and cheer him on as he competes for the Jubilee Cup. The tournament will see the knights battle it out for an unprecedented five days for the right one to be crowned champion.
There will be pomp, ceremony and splendor as this family-friendly event takes place in the spectacular gardens of Hampton Court Palace.
Find out More: Hampton Court Palace Joust
RAF Hendon Pageant
Dates: 2 – 4 June
The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon will celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with a fun-filled family festival featuring storytelling, live history and children’s activities. There will be a fairground with numerous children’s games, painting, music, access to planes, Airfix and much more.
Entry to the festival is free, but some activities will require a fee of between £1 and £6.
Find out More: RAF Hendon Pageant
Royal Greenwich Together 22
Date: 2nd June
On Thursday 2nd June, from 12pm to 6pm, Royal Greenwich Together 22 will take place in Charlton Park in Greenwich with free music and activities.
Kids Town will keep the kids entertained with workshops and activities, while throughout the park they the 50’s will be celebrated with a marquee full of performances and activities.
Find out More: Greenwich Jubilee
Platinum Picnic in the Park
Date: 3rd June
From 12pm to 4pm on June 3rd, pack a picnic and head to Charlton Park for the Platinum Jubilee Grand Picnic. There will be activities and entertainment during the day to enjoy the day with the family.
Find out More: Greenwich Jubilee Picnic
Zoobilee en London Zoo
Dates: 28th May – 5th June
London Zoo celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with its new Zoobilee event. Packed with family activities, the whole family will enjoy a day of celebration in addition to seeing more than 15,000 animals.
Kids can bring their favourite stuffed toy for the wildest teddy bear picnic in town. Kids can also walk on the wild side with their bug hunting sessions or create an animal crown.
With animal talks, face painting and workshops, there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained.
Find out More: Zoobilee
