Get ready to celebrate…
There’s a host of exciting events to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, so dig out your flags and get celebrating. By Joanna Parry & Juliette Dixon The Official Central Weekend 2–5 June Sunday 3 June – Big Jubilee Lunch Building on the popular Big Lunch initiative, enjoy lunch with neighbours and friends. Organise your own street party or share a picnic – it’s all about the community coming together for food, music and good old-fashioned fun. Sunday 3 June –Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant See the Queen lead a flotilla of 1000 boats from across the UK, Commonwealth and the rest of the world. Steam boats, tall ships, cruisers, kayaks, Dunkirk little ships and Dragon boats – the flotilla will be the largest fleet of ships to assemble on the Thames in 350 years, continuing a royal tradition which dates back to Anne Boleyn’s coronation. The Pageant begins in Putney and culminate at Tower Bridge. Monday 4 June – BBC Concert at the Palace Join in the fun at the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace with artists including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Annie Lennox. Don’t worry if you didn’t get a ticket – there’s room for 500,000 people in St James’s Park, Green Park and the Mall to watch it on giant screens. www.bbc.co.uk/diamondjubilee Monday 4 June – Diamond Jubilee Beacons A network of Beacons will be lit throughout the UK and Commonwealth, including
beacons on the battlements of The Tower of London, St James’s Palace and Lambeth Palace. Details from 6 May at www.
family to enjoy, including a ‘Tiaras and Tuxedos’ picnic, a special church service in the marquee followed by ‘The Big Lunch’ and a traditional family day at the recreational ground on 4 June.
diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk Tuesday 5 June – Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession The final day of official celebrations includes a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral before the Queen travels in a procession through the streets of London.
Other Jubilee Events Until 23 Jun – Long to Reign Over Us at Dartford Borough Museum Visit the exhibition celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee which focuses on local events at the time of the Accession and Coronation, together with more recent royal visits to the Borough. 15 May – Queen’s Diamond Jubilee event in Bromley The Queen is visiting Bromley as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and Bromley Council is holding an all day public event to commemorate the event. There will be displays and interactive installations and a ‘Jubilee Road’ street party. Plus the Glades Shopping Centre and the Queen’s Gardens will be transformed with fashion exhibits to celebrate 60 years of British fashion. 17 May to 21 October – The Queen: Art and Image National Portrait Gallery Bringing together images of Elizabeth II from throughout her
reign, this exhibition shows the way she has been portrayed down the decades, ranging from official paintings to works by Lucian Freud, Andy Warhol, Annie Leibovitz and Gilbert and George. 24 May to 4 November – At Home with the Queen Museum of London Featuring Londoners photographed in their homes, this exhibition explores cherished mementoes of Her Majesty’s reign. 2 & 3 June – Jubilee Family Festival at Hyde Park This twoday festival will culminate in a finale on both days comprising of Disney songs and characters. Plus equestrian events, deathdefying motorbike stunts and kids’ television characters. With giant screens covering the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, the festival will showcase Britain throughout the decades. 2–4 June – A Right Royal Weekend in Halstead Village Halstead village will host a series of spectacular events for all the
4 June – Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Bexleyheath Bexleyheath town centre is the focal point for the Bexley borough’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. A big street party in the Broadway is planned, with stalls, events and free entertainment and the annual Civic Parade will process through the town centre. 4 June – Diamond Jubilee Picnic at Chislehurst Rec Bring your own picnic and some games. 30 June to 8 July & 31 July to 7 October – Buckingham Palace Summer Opening Visit the lavishly decorated State Rooms furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection. 31 July to 30 September – Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration at Buckingham Palace This spectacular exhibition shows the many ways in which diamonds have been used by British monarchs over the last 200 years. It includes the necklace made for Queen Victoria’s coronation, a crown worn by Victoria for her Diamond Jubilee portrait and a set of diamonds given to her by the Sultan of Turkey.
At the time of going to press a number of local events were still in the planning stage.To find out more visit: www.familieslondonkent.co.uk • www.bexley.gov.uk • www.bromley.gov.uk/diamondjubilee • www.dartford.gov.uk/events/jubilee.htm • www.royal.gov.uk • www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee • www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org • www.thebiglunch.com
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