As Britain embarks on a four-day weekend to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, here are the key schedules for the official celebrations.
Thursday
10:00 The holiday will begin with the troops of color. The parade of the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guard will feature more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Home Division, hundreds of army musicians and 240 horses. There will be a royal salute during the parade. Members of the royal family will leave Buckingham Palace at around 10.30am. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will join the royal family as deputies for the Queen of Wales’s Queen, who will not be taking part in the ceremony, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. This will be the first opportunity for the public to see Harry, Meghan, William and Kate all together since the dramatic departure of the Sussex from the UK two years ago.
Members of the public are encouraged to view the events in person at the mall or on the edge of St James Park overlooking the Horseback Riding Parade from 9am. Alternatively, there will be large screens in St James’s Park, Bute Park in Cardiff and Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. Or, from the comfort of your couch, tune in to live coverage on BBC One.
13:00 After the parade, working members of the royal family, not the Sussex or Prince Andrew, will appear on the balcony for a flight over the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force while 70 planes take off over the palace.
From 20 h. In keeping with the tradition of the Royal Jubilee, more than 1,500 beacons will be lit in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the overseas territories of the United Kingdom to form a “string of lights”. Fifty-four beacons will be lit in the capitals of the Commonwealth. The “main lighthouse” – a 21-meter sculpture “Tree of Trees” by designer Thomas Heatherwick – will be lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace by Prince William at the Queen’s behest, which will appear in Windsor Castle . The ceremony will be attended by members of the royal family at around 9.25pm and the events will be broadcast on BBC One.
Friday
9.15am The second day begins with coverage on BBC One of a Thanksgiving service for the Queen’s reign which will be broadcast live from St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Members of the royal family will arrive from 11 a.m. onwards. Great Paul, recently restored and the bell of the largest church in the country, will ring for the craft.
Saturday
16:30 Members of the Royal Family will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs. It will be broadcast live on ITV1.
20:00 Elton John, Alicia Keys, Stefflon Don, Craig David and Andrea Bocelli are among the stars performing at the Platinum Party at the Palace, a concert at Buckingham Palace for 22,000 people, including members of the royal family and 5,000 key workers, plus many more from home. and BBC One. The events will be overseen by hosts Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp. The concert will also be screened on the big screens of St James’ Park and the Mall, Bute Park and Princes Street Gardens.
Sunday
Lunchtime More than 10 million people across the UK are expected to attend the luncheon as part of the “Great Jubilee Lunch”. Outside the UK, more than 600 lunches are planned across the Commonwealth.
2.30pm The Golden State carriage, driven by the Sovereign’s escort but without carrying the Queen, will lead a 3km journey through the shopping center to Buckingham Palace. With the participation of more than 10,000 people, including the military, volunteers, performers and key workers, it will be available on BBC One from 13:00 and on the big screens in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh.