PM urges 'killjoy' councils to approve requests for Jubilee parties
Don’t be killjoys! Boris Johnson urges councils to approve last-minute Platinum Jubilee party requests as authorities are accused of ‘ruining’ plans with bans on bunting and booze in the streets
- The prime minister has urged councils to approve last-minute requests for street parties to mark the jubilee
- Ministers urging local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about Jubilee street parties ahead of a momentus weekend
- Estimated 16,000 applications for street parties have been approved with 15million expected to attend events
- Tory MPs warned ‘killjoy’ councils should not block people marking Queen’s 70th year on the throne
- Portsmouth City Council has advised those attending street parties not to hang bunting by telephone poles
- Glasgow City Council says it will not lift local bylaws banning the consumption of alcohol in the city’s streets
- How are you celebrating the Platinum Jubilee?: Send photographs and details to [email protected]
- Latest Platinum Jubilee news as the Queen celebrates 70 years of service
How are you celebrating the Platinum Jubilee?
Send photographs and details of your event to [email protected]
The prime minister has urged councils to approve last-minute requests for street parties to mark the jubilee, as four million could end up hosting illegal celebrations this weekend.
The official spokesman for Boris Johnson said that councils should be ‘as accommodating as possible’, for the Platinum Jubilee.
As many as 15 million Brits are preparing to mark the occasion, but just 16,000 applications to close roads for parties have been approved across the country.
The prime minister’s comments are out of line with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which urged people to host informal ‘street meets’ if their parties did not get approved.
Research suggests that 3.8 million people are planning on going to an unofficial street party this weekend — which could be broken up by police if celebrations block traffic — The Telegraph reported.
Killjoy councils have been accused of ‘ruining’ plans for Platinum Jubilee street parties by issuing warnings about ‘unauthorised’ bunting and refusing to lift public boozing bans.
And ministers yesterday urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.
Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.
He called on councils to ‘show a little flexibility’ for party applications that had passed the deadline.
The Local Government Association (LGA) – which represents local authorities – said councils were ‘pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country’ and urged Britons to get their street party applications in ‘as soon as possible’.
It said that it ‘may be possible’ to approve last-minute street closures, and urged people to speak to their councils directly about the requests. Some local authorities had a deadline of March.
The prime minister has urged councils to approve last-minute requests for street parties to mark the jubilee and be ‘as accommodating as possible’. Pictured, the PM on May 26
While Britons have been hanging Union Jack flags and bunting (pictured: Library image) in preparation for the momentous Royal occasion this week, council spoilsports have been busy throwing up their red tape
In others, council officials have been accused of being party-poopers by failing to lift by-laws banning drinking in the streets (pictured: Library image), while fire chiefs are urging revellers to stick to the side of the roads rather than the middle
An estimated 16,000 events celebrating the Queen’s 70th year on the throne have been given the green light with up to 15million people are expected to attend celebrations across the four-day bank holiday weekend. Pictured: Library image of a party with Union Jack bunting
Tory MPs have hit out at council ‘killjoys’ amid warnings that residents should not go ahead with unauthorised bashes to mark the Queen’s (pictured earlier this month) 70 years on the throne
While Britons have been hanging Union Jack flags in preparation for the momentous Royal occasion this week, council spoilsports have been busy throwing up their red tape.
In some areas, jobsworth local officials are urging residents not to hang up Jubilee bunting from telephone poles, saying they could create a ‘hazard’.
In other areas, council officials have been accused of being party-poopers by failing to lift bylaws banning drinking in the streets – while fire chiefs are urging revellers to stick to the side of the roads rather than the middle.
But in what is perhaps the most egregious example of ‘health and safety gone mad’ ahead of the Jubilee, local authority leaders have told residents not to attach flags to metal lamp posts because they fear they could snap.
Portsmouth City Council are among the authorities risking the wrath of Jubilee Party planners by banning bunting on lampposts, as well as the Duchess of Cambridge’s home of West Berkshire.
Ministers urge ‘killjoy’ councils not to shut down Jubilee street parties: Fears millions of Britons could see celebrations spoiled after just 16,000 applications were approved
Ministers today urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.
Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.
Tory MPs have hit out at council ‘killjoys’ amid warnings that residents should not go ahead with unauthorised bashes to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
An estimated 16,000 events have been given the green light – but up to 15million people are expected to attend celebrations.
In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Philp pleaded for local authorities to take a lenient approach.
Mr Philp said: ‘I think it is fantastic we are celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, and I would just say to local councils around the country, including mine in Croydon, if you do get a late application, and maybe the deadline has technically passed, I would just say to the councils to show a little bit of flexibility, show a little bit of willingness to accommodate people.
‘And if you are at all able to, you know, please do grant these requests, even if they are maybe technically after the deadline.’
Last week the Portsmouth officials wrote to those organising street parties warning that hanging the lightweight string of flags on lampposts could be a ‘safety hazard’.
One resident, Albie Somerset, who is planning a street party in the southern port city, branded the warning ‘ludicrous’.
She told the Daily Star: ‘We filled out all the forms and jumped through all the hoops to get the road closure.
‘Now we’ve got a letter saying not to put bunting on telegraph poles. Are they not stable enough to hold some lightweight flags?’
The authority said in its letter that ‘no bunting is to be strung from telegraph poles’ during the Jubilee celebrations. It also said bunting must be at least 18ft (5.5metres) from the ground and of an ‘easily breakable nature’.
Similarly, in Bournemouth, bunting on lampposts is also banned for ‘safety reasons’. West Berkshire Council has gone one step further, by saying even its metal lamp posts are off limits.
The authority – based in the Berkshire, the home of Windsor Castle – says flags, signs, banners and bunting must not be displayed from lampposts as they could be broken by the weight of a person on a stepladder resting against them to tie on items.
Council staff have told the area’s 150,000 residents that authority bigwigs fear being sued if a person attaching decorations topples a post and causes an accident.
A local resident said: ‘It’s health and safety gone mad. And – despite the road being closed for our Jubilee celebration – we’ve even been told we’re not allowed to tie bunting across the road.’
West Berkshire Council issued street party guidelines to organisers which state: ‘No street party is allowed to attach any decorations to street lighting. Signs, banners and bunting must not be attached to lampposts.
‘This is as has been stated in our Jubilee pack on how to hold a street party from the start.’
The authority specifically urged people not to try and attach bunting to its metal street lights, saying they could snap if residents lean ladders against them.
A spokesperson said: ‘Our aluminium lighting columns are not designed to have the weight of a ladder and a human propped against them. We have no control over the type, size and material of decorations, nor method of erection.
‘We’ve waived the need for indemnity insurance, so any liability for a bunting-related incident, including its erection and taking down, would fall on the council.’
Meanwhile, Rochford District Council in Essex took its own firm stance, warning that recklessly arranged bunting could stop residents having their bins collected.
Portsmouth (pictured) City Council are among the authorities risking the wrath of Jubilee Party planners by banning bunting on lampposts
While residents in Berkshire face a bunting ban, those in Glasgow (pictured) face a street booze ban. The city’s authority said it was not lifting its usual ban on alcohol consumption in the streets
While residents in Berkshire face a bunting ban, those in Glasgow (pictured) face a street booze ban. The city’s authority said it was not lifting its usual ban on alcohol consumption in the streets
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, 66, will miss Queen’s Platinum Jubilee service at St Paul’s Cathedral after being diagnosed with Covid and mild pneumonia
The Archbishop of Canterbury has been diagnosed with Covid and ‘mild’ pneumonia which will force him to miss the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Justin Welby was due to preach at a Thanksgiving service in St Paul’s Cathedral this Friday, but the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, will now take his place.
Mr Welby, 66, was diagnosed with pneumonia on Thursday last week but was still well enough to continue working on a reduced schedule.
But after testing positive for Covid this morning, he is now self-isolating at home and has cancelled all his engagements for the rest of the week.
A colleague will now light a Jubilee beacon at Lambeth Palace this Thursday on his behalf.
Mr Welby previously had to miss Christmas 2014 due to pneumonia.
He said today: ‘I am deeply saddened to be missing the historic celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
‘However, I will be praying for The Queen and giving thanks for her extraordinary seventy years of service to us all. I will also be praying for our nation at this time of celebration and thanksgiving. May The Queen’s example bring us together in unity and care for one another.
‘For those attending Friday’s service at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the millions watching on television, I hope this joyful occasion will inspire us with The Queen’s profound commitment to fostering unity and peace among all people – and to promoting care for the natural world that God has given us.
‘Led by the love of Jesus Christ, The Queen has lived her life for the benefit of others: l pray we find inspiration from Her Majesty over the Jubilee weekend and long into the future.
‘Meanwhile as we continue to live with coronavirus, I pray too for all those who are still suffering and everyone who continues to mourn loved ones they have lost during the pandemic. May you each know the love and comfort of God.’
‘As we prepare to celebrate the first Platinum Jubilee in our nation’s history, may God save The Queen, and bless her with the knowledge of our profound love and gratitude for her service to us all.’
A spokesman told the Telegraph: ‘Putting up bunting across some roads and attached to electric poles has the potential to cause damage to our dustcarts as well as other large vehicles, as it could get wrapped around parts of the vehicle and cause damage to the light poles and/or vehicles.’
While residents in Rochdale face a bunting ban, those in Glasgow face a street booze ban. The city’s authority said it was not lifting its usual ban on alcohol consumption in the streets.
The current city byelaw states: ‘Any person who consumes alcoholic liquor in a designated place or is found to be in possession of an open container containing alcohol in a designated place shall be guilty of an offence.’
Under the bylaw, anyone caught drinking in the street by the police faces a fixed penalty of £60. And the authority says it is unlikely to lift the rule.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman told The Daily Record: ‘My understanding is that there has been no relaxation of the current by-laws in relation to outdoor drinking in public places.’
According to the paper, the authority is reportedly concerned following public disorder after 4,000 attended an unofficial party during the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Police and revellers clashed at the event, with a dozen police officer injured and 22 people being arrested.
Meanwhile, fire chiefs have advised revellers not to hold impromptu parties in the middle of the street. In advice issued by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and echoed by other fire departments, they said: ‘We suggest that you set up tables along one side of the road and not the middle.’
It comes as ministers today urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.
Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.
In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Philp said: ‘I think it is fantastic we are celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, and I would just say to local councils around the country, including mine in Croydon, if you do get a late application, and maybe the deadline has technically passed, I would just say to the councils to show a little bit of flexibility, show a little bit of willingness to accommodate people.
‘And if you are at all able to, you know, please do grant these requests, even if they are maybe technically after the deadline.’
Many councils have waived administration fees for road closures, of which there were 9,500 during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the LGA said.
A snap poll of a dozen councils by the LGA showed they have approved more than 1,000 street parties. Extrapolated nationally, it could mean more than 16,000 Platinum Jubilee bashes.
But six weeks’ notice is usually required for a road closure, and there are concerns that many neighbourhoods have not applied far enough in advance.
Tory MPs have been urging town halls to ‘clear the way’ for more events.
Ministerial aide Richard Holden told the Telegraph: ‘The Platinum Jubilee marks a unique moment in our nation’s history, that families in cities, towns and villages across Britain are looking forward to joining together in celebrating. The idea that bolshie bureaucrats are tying people up in red tape to prevent these celebrations is contemptible.
Preparations for the Platinum Jubilee at Buckingham Palace earlier this month. Pictured: Union Jacks line the Mall from Buckingham Palace down to Trafalgar Square
British Union Jack flags are displayed in a housing estate to celebrate the forthcoming Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, on May 30, 2022 in London
A person walks underneath rows of Union Jack flags hanging across Regent Street in London
Bunting on display at Covent Garden in central London ahead of the Queen’s jubilee celebrations
Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted
‘Councils should clear the way to let these historic national celebrations go ahead so that friends and families can celebrate together this weekend.’
Fellow Conservative Johnny Mercer, a former Army captain, said: ‘These street parties should be allowed to go ahead. We shouldn’t let killjoys spoil the jubilee.’
Julian Knight, the Tory chairman of the culture select committee, said: ‘Councils have to be realistic about this and understand that this is a once-in-a lifetime celebration, something which will never be seen again and they need to be as flexible as possible.’
LGA chairman James Jamieson, said over the weekend: ‘Councils are pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country.
‘Whether it be approving thousands of local road closures for free or putting on big community events, councils are doing what they do best and bringing people together in innovative ways to mark this important milestone.
‘After two tough years at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we hope that this time will allow people to raise a toast and celebrate with their loved ones and neighbours’.
Commemorative tree planting is under way in some areas as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, and libraries are gearing up for the Big Jubilee Read campaign celebrating books by authors from across the Commonwealth published during her seven decades as sovereign.
Councils including Wyre Forest, Gedling and Surrey Heath are hosting jubilee events such as beacon lighting, picnics and tea parties.
Hertfordshire County Council has received a record 475 street party applications while the London Borough of Waltham Forest has approved over 100 events and is putting on a mile-long street party.
A street part held to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne in June 2012
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities said: ‘If you can’t or don’t want to close your road, you could plan a simpler street meet at short notice.
‘This can keep the road open and be organised on private land, such as a driveway or front garden, without any requirement to fill in council forms. Residents should speak to their council about plans in any case.’
LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson, added: ‘Councils are pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country, whether it be approving thousands of local road closures for free or putting on big community events of their own.
‘A huge number of applications for street parties have been received, and councils need to balance supporting as many residents as possible while ensuring events that do take place are set up and run safely.
‘With the day fast-approaching, anyone who has yet to submit their application should contact their council as soon as possible.’
- Are you having issues with authorities while trying to set up your Platinum Jubilee party? Contact me: [email protected]
How the nation will mark Queen’s 70 years on the throne this week: Days of joyous Jubilee celebrations will start with birthday parade and ending with historic pageant and 200,000 street parties… so how will YOU celebrate?
By Mark Duell for MailOnline
People across the UK are preparing to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over the four-day weekend from this Thursday, with a series of major events scheduled – from Trooping the Colour to a special Pageant.
Britons will also be able to celebrate the nation’s longest-reigning monarch with a series of outdoor parties on Sunday, while there will be a televised concert on the BBC from Buckingham Palace the day before.
The Queen is expected to delight crowds with a double appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony – at the start of celebrations after Trooping the Colour on Thursday, and after the Pageant parade finale on Sunday.
The monarch is also hoping to be able attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, with her wider family including – it is expected – Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew.
The Queen, 96, is also set to spend time with the Sussexes, who are bringing their children Archie and Lilibet over from the US – and could meet Lili for the first time as she celebrates her first birthday on Saturday.
On Sunday, thousands of people will gather across the country as more than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches and street parties are staged in celebration of the Queen’s record-breaking 70 year reign.
Here, MailOnline looks at the programme of events over the four-day bank holiday weekend from Thursday:
TODAY TO WEDNESDAY
No official celebrations planned, but hundreds of ongoing events are being held across the UK by museums, art galleries and hotels to mark the Jubilee – with a full list of 652 public events before Thursday available here.
The Tower of London’s Superbloom – 20 million seeds planted in the moat to create a spectacular meadow – opens from Wednesday until September and features a family-friendly slide for visitors to shoot down into the attraction.
THURSDAY
Trooping the Colour (from 10am, flypast at 1pm)
The official programme for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee begins with the Trooping the Colour military spectacle this Thursday, which is due to begin at around 10am at Buckingham Palace.
More than 1,500 officers and soldiers and 350 horses from the Household Division will stage the display on Horse Guards Parade in London, with the colour trooped by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards.
Some 400 musicians from 10 military bands and corps of drums will march amid pomp and pageantry.
The Colonel’s Review, the final rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour, at Horse Guards Parade in London last Saturday
The Royal Family will travel from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to the parade ground in carriages at about 10.30am, with the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal on horseback.
Plans are said to be in place either for the Queen briefly to inspect the troops on the parade ground or from the balcony with the Duke of Kent, or to only appear on the balcony with the royal family for a special flypast afterwards.
If the Queen does delegate her salute duties at Trooping to another family member, it will be the first time she has done so in her 70-year reign.
Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, William and the Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will be on the balcony for the flypast which is due to take place at about 1pm.
The Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, on The Mall during the Colonel’s Review in London last Saturday
The Queen limited the numbers to working royals, meaning the Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be there.
But her Cambridge great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and her two youngest grandchildren, the Wessexes’ children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, will be present.
A six-minute display by more than 70 aircraft will include the Red Arrows and the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Platinum Jubilee Beacons (from 9.25pm)
On Thursday evening, more than 3,000 beacons will be set ablaze across the UK and the Commonwealth in tribute to the Queen.
The network of flaming tributes will stretch throughout the country, with beacons at sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle and the Queen’s estates of Sandringham and Balmoral, and on top of the UK’s four highest peaks.
The first beacons will be lit in Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific, and the final one in the central American country of Belize.
The principal beacon outside the Palace – a 21-metre tall Tree of Trees sculpture for the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative – will be illuminated by a senior member of the royal family, and images will be projected on to the Palace.
Major General Nick Eeles Governor of Edinburgh Castle lights the Diamond Jubilee beacon at Edinburgh Castle in June 2012
FRIDAY
Service of Thanksgiving (from 11am)
A traditional service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London from 11am on Friday.
There will be no ceremonial journey to the cathedral and the Queen, if she attends, will use a different entrance to aid her comfort rather than the steep main steps.
Wider members of the family are expected to be present including possibly Harry, Meghan and Andrew, and the service will be followed by a Guildhall reception for members of the royal family.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss the service. The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, will give the sermon instead.
Justin Welby was diagnosed with mild pneumonia last Thursday and was continuing to work, but after developing symptoms over the weekend he tested for coronavirus.
A full dress rehearsal this morning for the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral which will take place on Friday
Practice marches this morning ahead of the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral which takes place this Friday
SATURDAY
Epsom Derby (from 4pm)
The Queen is no longer planning to attend the Epsom Derby during her Platinum Jubilee weekend.
The 96-year-old monarch is said to want to pace herself during her milestone celebrations, with her daughter the Princess Royal representing her at the racecourse instead, The Sunday Times reported.
The Derby on Saturday June 4 was to be a personal highlight for the Queen during the four days of Jubilee festivities.
The head of state, a passionate horse owner and breeder, was due to be greeted on the course with a special guard of honour including up to 40 of her past and present jockeys.
But the newspaper revealed the monarch is now ‘increasingly unlikely’ to head to Epsom. However the Queen will still have a runner – Just Fine, in the penultimate race of the afternoon.
A message for Queen Elizabeth II is seen on a digital display as horses are walked through Piccadilly Circus in London today
Alan and Kelly Wakeling pose today at their market stall ALK Fruit and Veg on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, West London
Bell and Sons Butchers in Bermondsey, south east London, has a Platinum Jubilee flag on their chalk board for the Jubilee, as well as Union Jack bunting hung from the ceiling
Hype Hair salon in Bermondsey, south east London, puts up Union Jack flags and a Platinum Jubilee flag of the Queen with red, white and blue balloons and bunting
Union Jack flags cover the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey, south east London, for the Jubilee, who are known for adorning the housing area with flags on national events. They had plenty of England flags in celebration of the England football team getting to the finals of the Euros last year
Lilibet’s birthday
Saturday is also the first birthday of Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet, amid speculation the youngster could spend the day with her namesake great-grandmother.
The Sussexes are flying over from the US with Lili, who has never met the Queen in person before, and her older brother Archie.
It could be the first time Harry and Meghan have been seen alongside the Windsor clan since Megxit and since they accused an unnamed senior royal of racism during their controversial Oprah Winfrey interview.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are flying over from the US with Lilibet and her brother Archie (pictured last December)
Party At The Palace (from 7.30pm)
In the evening, the BBC’s Party at the Palace – set on three stages in front of Buckingham Palace – will entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people and a television audience of millions.
The line-up includes Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers, Andrea Bocelli, Duran Duran, Bond composer Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra.
The show will also feature appearances from stars including Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry and Dame Julie Andrews.
Charles and William are preparing to deliver public tributes at the concert to the Queen, who will be watching on television from Windsor.
An artist’s impression released earlier this month of the stage outside Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Party at the Palace
SUNDAY
Big Jubilee Lunch
Millions of people are expected to sit down with their neighbours at street parties, picnics and barbecues, with more than 200,000 Big Jubilee Lunches being held across the UK on the Sunday afternoon,
Camilla, patron of the Big Lunch, will join Charles at a flagship feast at The Oval cricket ground in south London, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex will meet people creating the ‘Long Table’ down on The Long Walk leading up to Windsor Castle.
The celebration also coincides with this year’s Thank You Day – originally set up to pay tribute to those who helped people through the pandemic.
Celebrities Ross Kemp, Gareth Southgate, Prue Leith and Ellie Simmonds have urged people to throw the biggest thank you party for the Queen.
A Jubilee street party on June 3, 2012 on the bridge that connects Goring in Oxfordshire and Streatley in Berkshire
A woman pictured walking past a fancy dress shop in Bermondsey, London which has covered their storefront with red, white and blue balloons and Union Jack bunting
A hair removal clinic in London puts special Platinum Jubilee bunting across their sandwich board, as well as featuring a cartoon Corgi drawn on the glass of their storefront, which is pictured wearing a Union Jack party hat
Considered to be the ‘most patriotic estate in England’, Kirby Estate in Bermondsey adorns the railings of the flats with Union Jack flags ahead of the Jubilee weekend
Union Jack bunting and dedicated Platinum Jubilee flags are displayed in a shopping area to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne, with events being thrown from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June
The Blue Anchor pub in Hammersmith put a 3D silicone mask of the Queen wearing a golden crown, adorned with pearls, silver jewelled earrings and Union Jack glasses behind the bar for this weekend’s festivities
The Platinum Pudding, Scotch eggs and fruit platters will feature on a six-metre felt creation by artist Lucy Sparrow which is to be viewed by Charles and Camilla at The Oval. It will be given pride of place in the Grand Entrance of Buckingham Palace later this year.
Members of the local community, 70 volunteers who have been recognised as Platinum Champions through the Royal Voluntary Service’s Platinum Champions Awards, celebrity ambassadors and various charity representatives will be among the guests at the cricket ground.
The royal couple will also present the Platinum Champions with certificates and pins, before cutting a Big Jubilee Lunch cake.
More than 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches are being planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – from Canada to Brazil, New Zealand to Japan and South Africa to Switzerland.
Revelers on the Mall in London on June 5, 2012 during the four-day Diamond Jubilee celebration for the Queen that year
A banner and face masks of members of the royal family are displayed in the window of the Blue Anchor pub in Hammersmith, London, to celebrate the forthcoming Platinum Jubilee of the Queen this weekend
The Blue Anchor Pub in Hammersmith, west London, covers their windows with card face masks of the royal family as well as a Platinum Jubilee flag and red, white and blue bunting for this weekend’s celebrations
Edward and Sophie will join Berkshire residents for their special lunch on the Long Walk, not far from Windsor Castle.
The Long Walk is being reinvented to create ‘the Long Table’ in celebration of the jubilee. This royal pair are also set to meet groups of street performers.
Charles and Camilla will also celebrate with the residents of Albert Square in an EastEnders special. They will be seen attending a Big Lunch in a June 2 episode of the BBC soap.
The Big Lunch is an annual event aimed at celebrating community connections.
Jubilee Pageant (from 2.30pm)
The finale on June 5 is the Jubilee Pageant through the streets of London.
Set to be watched by up to a billion people across the globe, more than 10,000 people have been involved in staging the £15million procession.
Union flags hang above as horses are walked along Regent Street in London today ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Union flags hang above as horses are walked along Regent Street in London today ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Royal Navy personnel during a rehearsal for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at HMS Collingwood, in Fareham, Hampshire. The Pageant on Sunday has over 10,000 involved and is anticipating over a billion people watching from across the globe
Members of the marching band at HMS Colingwood rehearse for their role in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in Fareham on Monday
A peloton of 300 cyclists, riding vintage bikes from across the seven decades of her reign, is to travel down The Mall led by Sir Chris Hoy and cycling golden couple Dame Laura and Sir Jason Kenny. Pictured: Royal Navy and the Royal Marine Corps of Drums personnel during a rehearsal for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at HMS Collingwood, in Fareham
Members of the Royal Marines rehearse for their role in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in Fareham
Puppet corgis, a giant 3D wire bust of the Queen and the Gold State Coach are just some of the sights set to feature in the 1.8-mile (3km) parade
Set to be watched by up to a billion people across the globe, more than 10,000 people have been involved in staging the £15million procession
Royal Navy and the Royal Marine Corps of Drums personnel during a rehearsal for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at HMS Collingwood, in Fareham
Royal Marines Commando personnel during a rehearsal for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at HMS Collingwood, in Fareham
Royal Navy personnel during a rehearsal for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at HMS Collingwood
Puppet corgis, a giant 3D wire bust of the Queen and the Gold State Coach are just some of the sights set to feature in the 3km parade.
Stars including Idris Elba, Sir Cliff Richard, Courtney Love and Slade’s Noddy Holder will take to open-top buses in a through-the-ages tribute to the culture and music of the seven decades of the Queen’s reign.
It is hoped the monarch will make a final appearance on the Palace balcony to round off the weekend to see a musical finale of Ed Sheeran singing the national anthem with a choir made up of nearly 200 celebrities.
** What are you doing to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee? Please email: [email protected] **
A lifesize knitted Queen Elizabeth and a little corgi is seen in the grounds of St Luke’s Church in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire
A knitted British guard puppet and red, white and blue covers are displayed on a pole in the streets of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, for the Platinum Jubilee
Knitted British guard puppets are attached to the gate of St Luke’s Church in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, to celebrate the Queen’s record-breaking 70 years on the throne
A local community group, the Holmes Chapel Community Yarn Bombers have filled their village of Holmes Chapel with patriotic knitted items to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Pictured is a knitted Queen with two British guardsmen on top of a Royal Mail pillar box
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