Everything You Need To Know About The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebration

Today, June 2, kicks off the celebration of Her Majesty's 70th anniversary on the British throne. 

What made this day extra special is that exactly 69 years ago today, Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned as the new Sovereign of the United Kingdom and Her Realms at Westminster Abbey.

No wonder June 2 is the day chosen by the palace to hold the Trooping the Colour (traditionally celebrated every second Saturday of June), which officially marks the Queen's public birthday celebration.

The Queen's Jubilee Week Events

The official website of the Royal Family shared the schedules of the Jubilee week, June 2-5, 2022. There will be many events and activities celebrating the Jubilee across the United Kingdom and beyond.

If you are on UK soil, here are the activities in which you can take part.

1. The Queen's Birthday Parade/Trooping the Colour - More than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians will take part in the celebration to officially mark the Queen's birthday in public. She was born on April 21, 1926, however, the British monarch's official birthday is traditionally celebrated every second Saturday of June.

Credit: Platinum Jubilee/The Royal Family official website

However, this year, the palace scheduled it on weekend (June 2) to kick off the Jubilee week and also to commemorate the Queen's Coronation Day 69 years ago.

The Trooping the Colour parade will move down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, joined by members of the Royal Family on horseback. HRH Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, will lead his regiment, the Irish Guards, to troop the colour. 

Following the parade, the working members of the Royal Family will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. This year, the Queen has decided that only working royals will step out on the balcony to greet the cheering crowds and watch the fly-past presentation of the Royal Air Force.

When: June 2, 2022 (Thursday):
Open to the public? Yes, no booking required

Hosted by: The Royal Family

Location: Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

For those who cannot witness it live, the events of the Platinum Jubilee weekend will be broadcast live on BBC One.

2. Platinum Jubilee Pageant - According to the Platinum Jubilee website of the Royal Family, all the excitement and spectacle of an international parade and carnival - awe-inspiring and filled with marvel and delight, that is the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which will be marked with street parades around London. 

The pageant will combine street arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival, and costume to celebrate the Queen's devotion to royal duty, love of the natural world, and dedication to the Commonwealth.

The Platinum Pageant invites children from across the United Kingdom to play a part in the 'River of Hope" procession. The procession comprises 200 silk flags and will commence down The Mall, emulating a river.

The artwork for the flags will be focused on climate change and will channel children's messages for the future. Primary and Secondary school children are encouraged to participate to create for their hopes and aspirations for the future.

When: June 5, 2022 (Sunday):
Open to the public? Yes, no booking required
Hosted by: Platinum Pageant
Location: Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

3. BBC Platinum Party at the Palace - The Royal Family and BBC collaborated to organize a palace concert, "Platinum Party At the Palace". This will be one of a kind show as popular performers in the global stage will set to perform.

Buckingham Palace at daybreak. Credit: The Royal Family

Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra will share the three-stage set-up with Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Sam Ryder, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala and Diversity – all performing their biggest hits in a star-studded tribute to Her Majesty’s unprecedented anniversary.

When: June 4, 2022 (Saturday):
Open to the public? Advance booking/ticket is required
Hosted by: The Royal Family and BBC One
Location: Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

It will be live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 2. Find out more HERE

4. The Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs - Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by members of her family, will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs. For royal fans who may want to watch this event, an advance booking is required. Buy your tickets here: The Jockey Club

When: June 4, 2022 (Saturday):
Open to the public? Advance booking/ticket is required
Hosted by: The Jockey Club
Location: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom Downs, Epsom KT18 5LQ

5. Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral - St. Paul's Cathedral will hold a historic Thanksgiving Service to mark The Queen's 70th anniversary on the British throne. The Cathedral will also host an exhibition: Jubilee: St. Paul's The Monarch and the Changing World. 

The exhibition will explore the history of the Jubilee celebrations at St. Paul's Cathedral across three centuries. The special exhibition will also feature the Jubilee celebrations of past British monarchs: King George III, King George V, Queen Victoria, and the Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen's father, King George VI, did not reach a Jubilee celebration of his reign because he only reigned for 15 years. He ascended the British throne on December 11, 1936, and died on February 6, 1952.

The Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral will be attended by the royal family but it's a private event and not open to the public. Spectators will only have a chance to see the royals upon arrival and departure outside the church.

6. Banwell Community Picnic - Banwell Parish Council in Banwell, a village in North Somerset, England, will host a community picnic on Saturday, June 4, at the village hall to mark the Queen's Jubilee celebration. 

Credit: Banwell Parish Council 

When: June 4, 2022 (Saturday):
Open to the public? Yes, no booking required
Hosted by: Banwell Parish Council
Location: Banwell Recreation Ground, Westfield Road, Banwell, North Somerset, UK

6. Faversham Platinum Jubilee Week - Faversham Town Council organized multiple events for the community to mark the four-day bank holiday for the Queen's Jubilee week. 

Credit: Faversham Facebook

The events for the community will run from June 2 to June 5, 2022. From June 3 to June 5 there will be street entertainment in the marketplace, which the public can attend for free. 

Meet The Platinum Jubilee Corgi

Her Majesty has been known for her love for dogs. In her lifetime, she owned at least 30 corgis, all descended from her first corgi, Susan. 

In 2018, The Queen stopped breeding corgis because, in her own words, she does not want to die with several corgis left behind because dogs have tendencies to be brokenhearted once their owners passed away.

It comes as no surprise that the Royal Family also honored the Queen's corgis by creating a corgi sticker as a social media tool to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. They named it "PJ".

Resources For the Platinum Jubilee

The Royal Family's official website also published resources to be used for non-commercial purposes. Assets include official photos of Her Majesty and Platinum Jubilee emblems. These properties should be used for editorial purposes only.

1. Platinum Jubilee Emblem

Edward Roberts, a 19-year-old student at the University of Leeds, won the design contest for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee emblem. His design was selected by industry experts due to its simple platinum line design that reflects Her Majesty's continuous service.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee emblem designed by Edward Roberts

The emblem features a purple and platinum design. The continuous line reveals a styled St. Edward's Crown, incorporating the number 70, on a round purple background associated with royalty and signifying a royal seal.

Usage of the emblem is governed by certain guidelines, check HERE

The elegant font Perpetua, meaning forever, is an acknowledgement to the first time a British Monarch ever reached 70 years on the throne.

Find out the guidelines for using the Platinum Jubilee Emblem.

2. Official Platinum Jubilee Portrait

The royal family released an official Platinum Jubilee portrait of Her Majesty taken in her sitting room at Windsor Castle. It was taken by photographer, Ranald Mackechnie. 

Official Platinum Jubilee Portrait

This image can be used for free by non-profit organizations or individuals for non-commercial purposes only. Credit must go to Mr. Ranald Mackechnie, who took the photo. 

The portrait should not be used in merchandising, advertising, or any promotional activities without written consent from The Buckingham Palace press office. 

3. The Queen's Photograph for use by non-profit organizations

The below photograph is made available for charities and non-profit organizations who wish to use a picture to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The picture should be credited to Jacob King/PA Wire?PA images.

Credit: Jacob King/PA Wire/PA images.