02/06/2011

Queen Announces Diamond Jubilee Plans

Buckingham Palace has announced plans for the main weekend to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

The main programme will take place from Saturday 2nd June to Tuesday 5th June with celebratory activities throughout the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.

The Big Jubilee Lunch will take place on Sunday 3rd June. Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla.

There will be a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace on Monday 4th June, with tickets being available to UK residents by public ballot.

The musical programme for the concert is still being planned and is expected to feature British and Commonwealth musicians. Details on how to apply for the concert will be available in due course. This event is being organised by the BBC.

A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, The Queen will light the National Beacon. The beacons project is being organised by Diamond Jubilee Beacons Ltd.

On Tuesday 5th June, there will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage Procession by The Queen.

(BMcN/BMcC)

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