To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th anniversary of succession to the British throne, more than 200,000 local events and street parties will be held across the UK. A series of events have been lined up over the course of the extended Bank Holiday weekend between June 2 and June 5, which will also feature a saree created with sustainable recycled plastics displayed on four-meter-high puppets.
Accompany special Hindi themed wedding reception
Saree will accompany a special Hindi themed wedding reception ensemble at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant Finale on June 5, curated by South Asian British performance company Nutkhut.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to reinvent Sally, a timeless garment for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant,” said Sally, designed by renowned Irish fashion designer Paul Costello. Simmy Gupta, co-art director of Nutkhut, was designed as a group project by students from Arts University Bournemouth.
150 performers will pay tribute
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will traverse through The Mall in London and culminate at Buckingham Palace with around 150 performers, including singer Ed Sheeran, paying tribute to the 96-year-old monarch.
Acts will be broadcast via big screens in London
A giant dragon puppet the size of a double decker bus, corgis, acrobats, dancers and circus acts are among the elements that will be broadcast via big screens in London, Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens and in Cardiff’s Bute Park for the grand televised pageant.
With four days of celebrations and millions around the world taking part, this weekend will be a fitting tribute and celebration of Elizabeth’s service and dedication to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth”.
Events from June 2 to June 5
Celebrations begun on May 2 with the Queen’s Birthday Parade or Trooping the Colour taking place at Horseguards Parade in London. It will be followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral on June 3 and then a Party at the Palace concert on june 4 night, with some of the biggest names in music performing.
The Queen’s Birthday Parade involved more than 1,500 soldiers and musicians and around 240 horses, with the royal family assembling on the balcony of Buckingham Palace before beacons were lit in the evening.
Service on June 3 included Bible readings, anthems, prayers and congregational hymns to express thanks for the Queen’s reign, faith and service.
On June 4, global music stars including Queen and Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrea Bocelli, Ella Eyre, Craig David and Duran Duran will perform some of their biggest hits. The show will take place on a 360-degree stage around the Queen Victoria Memorial, will be closed by the legendary Diana Ross. Over 22,000 people are expected to attend the event , including more than 7,500 key workers, members of the Armed Forces, volunteers and charities. The Jubilee weekend comes to an end on June 5 with the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
Extended license opening hours of pubs and bars
The UK Government has extended license opening hours to allow people in UK and Wales pubs and bars to hold parties longer than normal 11 pm closing hours. Thousands of events are planned by local governments across the country, including screenings, street parties, picnics, and lunches, and millions of people are expected to meet at the anniversary lunches on weekends.
Eight UK towns are given city status
To mark the special occasion, eight British cities including Bangor in Northern Ireland, Colchester, England, Doncaster, Milton Keynes, Douglas on Man Island, Dunfermline in Scotland, Stanley in the Folkland Islands, and Lexham in Wales are given city status.
