Greater Manchester communities come together this festive weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty is the first British monarch to reach the milestone, having reigned for an incredible 70 years.
To mark the occasion, a series of parties and events are taking place during the four days of special celebration. He Manchester Evening News is coming out over the next few days to see how the region celebrates the queen’s platinum jubilee.
The jubilee begins this morning (June 2) with the Trooping the Color parade, which commemorates the queen’s “official” birthday. More than 1,200 soldiers and officers will take part in the tradition, along with 400 musicians from 10 bands and military corps.
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The event takes place at the Horse Guards Parade in London, and is all televised. There will also be an RAF flyover in London after Trooping the Color.
Tonight, a series of Jubilee beacons are being lit across the country to mark the occasion, including around Greater Manchester. The city center will host its own Jubilee Beacon lighting in St. Peter’s Square, and celebrations will begin around 9 p.m. before the lighthouse lights up at 9:45 p.m.
Other beacons will also be lit in Bury, Carrington, Oldham, Saddleworth, Salford, Stockport and Trafford Center. In total, more than 1,500 beacons will be lit in the UK and the Commonwealth.
And buntings roam the streets of Greater Manchester all weekend long as parties are held to commemorate the occasion. Follow the latest updates on celebrations in the region and beyond on our live blog below.